Stephen F. Austin State University

The Office of Public Affairs and the Alumni Association at Stephen F. Austin State University received 12 awards at the annual conference for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

Six awards were for publication designs by Donna Parish and Joseph Alford, three were for photographs by Hardy Meredith, and one was for a story written by Shirley Luna. Emily Payne and Jeff Davis of the Alumni Association won awards for organizing the best low-cost program and for a membership drive campaign in 2006.

Grand awards are presented each year to first-place winners in each category; excellence awards to second-place winners; achievement awards to third-place winners and special awards to fourth-place winners.

An informational package designed in conjunction with the reintroduction of Lumberjack baseball to the SFA campus won several awards, including the grand award for best low cost project, an excellence award for development and special events and a special award in the special pieces category.

Other design awards included an achievement award for the cover design of a social work brochure; a special award for a publications design series that included an academic brochure, a general information brochure and recruiting brochures; and an achievement award for the design improvement of a management, marketing and international business brochure.

Meredith received a grand award in the black-and-white structured photo category for his photo "Take Me Back to the Ballgame." He won an excellence award for a black-and-white candid photo from an SFA football game, and an achievement award for a color photo of a Ladyjack softball player and "Tanner," a dog owned by team coach Jennifer Wells.

Luna earned a grand award in the medical and science writing category for a story describing the experiences of a group of SFA anthropology students at Chimp Haven, a facility in Keithville, La., that provides care for chimpanzees formerly used for medical research.

Payne received the grand award for having the best low-cost alumni program, for the Houston Chapter's social, "Night at the Aquarium."

Davis received the special award in the category of alumni program/project or special event for the "Extra Mile" membership drive campaign held prior to Homecoming 2006.

The competition included entries from colleges and universities in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana.

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is the professional organization for advancement professionals at all levels who work in alumni relations, communications, and development.

Membership includes more than 3,300 colleges, universities, and independent elementary and secondary schools in 54 countries around the world.