NACOGDOCHES, Texas –– Stephen F. Austin State University officially celebrated the naming of the Denard Haden School of Theatre and Dance during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 16 in the Griffith Fine Arts Building.
The ceremony honored the legacy of beloved SFA alumnus and former faculty member Denard Haden, who established the university’s dance program and made history as the first choreographer for the famous Kilgore College Rangerettes. The naming was made possible by a transformative monetary commitment from Priscilla “Prissy” Abshier Sliva, 1959 SFA alumna and Haden’s niece, and approved by The University of Texas System Board of Regents.
A standing-room-only crowd filled the space to mark the occasion, bringing together university leadership, donors, faculty and staff members, current theatre and dance students and members of the broader SFA community. The event also drew prominent guests from across East Texas, including Kilgore city officials, former Rangerettes and former students taught by Haden.
"I hope that this gift will inspire the dance and theatre departments for the future generations and will be a reminder of all Mr. Haden's contributions," Sliva said. "It is definitely more blessed to give than to receive. Honoring and remembering Mr. Haden and giving back to SFA has been a true gift to me."
The newly named school recognizes Haden's pioneering role in shaping performance dance and drill team choreography across Texas, as well as Sliva's continued philanthropic dedication to her alma mater. Sliva's support also encompasses two major spaces within the renovated Griffith Fine Arts Building: the Denard Haden Performance Hall and the Denard Haden Dance Studio.
"Today, while we recognize Denard for his contributions and his life of giving and teaching, we also want to recognize Prissy for her ability to become something beyond what she studied, and to then use those benefits to give back," said Dr. Neal Weaver, SFA president. "And so, we thank you, and we're so excited to be able to celebrate you today."
Dr. Gary Wurtz, dean of SFA’s Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts, noted Sliva’s generosity helps secure a strong future for the organization and creates opportunities for meaningful, lasting change.
"It's through people like Prissy, making gifts like this, that we can look to the future with confidence that we're here for the long haul, and that we'll have what it takes to always be our best," Wurtz said. "Most people don't have the ability to change the lives of thousands of people for generations. But you're doing it.”
The naming of the Denard Haden School of Theatre and Dance marks an exciting milestone for SFA, ensuring that exceptional performing arts opportunities continue to inspire students and enrich the East Texas region for generations to come.
For more information about SFA’s Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts, visit sfasu.edu/finearts.
