Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas –– Amanda Sheriff, a soprano in opera and musical theater, will give the commencement address during Stephen F. Austin State University’s fall graduation ceremonies for undergraduates at 2 and 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, in Johnson Coliseum. Sheriff will also lead the singing of the SFA school song during each of the ceremonies.
All master’s and doctoral candidates, including the members of SFA’s first Doctor of Social Work cohort, will receive their degrees during the Graduate Studies ceremony at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, in Turner Auditorium, Griffith Fine Arts Building.
Sheriff, who earned a Bachelor of Music in music education in 2016 and a Master of Music in vocal performance in 2018 from SFA, enrolled in the university as a first-generation college student thinking she would become a choir teacher just like her favorite high school choir director, Deidre Douglas, also an SFA alumna. Instead, she recently completed a stint as a studio artist with The Atlanta Opera. She returns this season as Barbarina in “Le Nozze di Figaro,” makes her musical theater debut as Sarah in “Ragtime” with Opera Montana and will appear with Opera Baltimore as Yniold in “Pelléas et Mélisande.”
“Amanda is a shining example of how SFA helps students discover who they are and what they’re meant to do,” said Dr. Neal Weaver, SFA president. “She found her voice here — and through determination and passion, turned it into her calling. We’re excited to see how all our graduates carry that spirit forward.”
At SFA, Sheriff sang Lauretta in “Gianni Schicchi,” Rosabella in “The Most Happy Fella,” Marenka in “The Bartered Bride,” Anne in “The Merry Wives of Windsor” and Pamina in “The Magic Flute.” She was named Recitalist of the Year in 2016 and 2018 and Alumnus of the Year in 2019. She studied with soprano and vocal coach Debbie Berry while attending SFA and won first prize in the prestigious Lotte Lenya Competition in 2022.
“I’m so grateful that SFA recognized my potential and that Debbie Berry helped me build such a strong vocal foundation,” Sheriff said. “With the guidance and experiences SFA offers, the Class of 2025 will soon see that their possibilities are endless.”
The public is invited to attend the graduation ceremonies, and community tickets will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis at the coliseum ticket office and the Fine Arts Box Office one hour before each event begins.
Thursday, Dec. 11, Turner Auditorium, Griffith Fine Arts Building
- 6 p.m. — Graduate Studies (all master’s and doctoral degree candidates)
Friday, Dec. 12, Johnson Coliseum
- 2 p.m. — Nelson Rusche College of Business and James I. Perkins College of Education
- 6 p.m. — Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, College of Liberal and Applied Arts, College of Sciences and Mathematics, and Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts
Degrees to be awarded include 694 bachelor’s, 132 master’s and 20 doctoral degrees. This semester, 224 students will graduate with honors, including 58 cum laude, 65 magna cum laude and 101 summa cum laude. Twelve students will graduate with the university scholar designation.
For more information, visit sfasu.edu/graduation.