WE ARE LEARNERS

Education is important to the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce and a vital component of our mission. The Chamber is committed to providing educational opportunities and professional development to Nacogdoches businesses and the community. The Chamber offers learning opportunities through the Business Development Series, the Education Committee Programs, and Leadership Nacogdoches.

These programs, administered by the Nacogdoches County Chamber Foundation, enhance the quality of life for individuals of Nacogdoches County by linking business, education, economic development and the community to support leadership, academic growth and workforce readiness.

Education Committee
Chair Erin Windham,  Coordinator Parent & Patron Assistance Center, Nacogdoches ISD

Mission - To enhance the quality of life for individuals of Nacogdoches County by linking education, economic development, and the community to support leadership, academic growth, and workforce readiness.

The Education Committee meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each Month; if interested in joining please call 936-560-5533. Follow us on Facebook!

Programs of the Education Committee:

• Great Expectations
• N.O.B.L.E. Scholars
• Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT Crew)

For sponsorship opportunites please click here.

Leaders of Tomorrow – LOT Crew:
Program Chair Kendra Weir

The purpose of LOT Crew is to develop leadership skills in grade eight students, who were selected to represent their schools. The program provides opportunities for the LOT Crew students to explore different aspects of the community, city, county, and businesses. The program begins in September with a Saturday LOT Crew Retreat. The LOT Crew meets once a month throughout the school year for off-campus community exploration and leadership development. In late Spring, the LOT Crew students are honored with a graduation ceremony. For more information on the LOT Crew please click here for the program description.  LOT Crew Application 2022-23  Reference Form

Call 936-560-5533 with questions.

Great Expectations:
The Great Expectations Program guides young people to consider a pathway to success. Chamber volunteers present the program using a selection of economic outcomes for various careers. The program is the first opportunity to present information on the N.O.B.L.E. Scholar program. The Great Expectations program encourages and motives students to aspire for future success.

Nacogdoches County’s Opportunity for Better Learning Experience (N.O.B.L.E.)  
Subcommittee Chair - Adam Freeland

N.O.B.L.E. Scholars:
N.O.B.L.E. students are challenged to take and master advanced classes and complete a community service project. Completing the N.O.B.L.E. curriculum will lead students to increased opportunities, better jobs and higher self-esteem, and the business community benefits from a stronger work force. N.O.B.L.E. stands for Nacogdoches County Opportunity for a Better Learning Experience. Click for more information.

N.O.B.L.E. Scholars are recognized at the annual N.O.B.L.E. Scholars Reception in the Spring of their senior year. All N.O.B.L.E. Scholars are presented with a medallion to wear at graduation. N.O.B.L.E. Scholars are eligible to apply for the N.O.B.L.E. Scholarship ($1,000) to attend Stephen F. Austin State University. 

Are you interested in becoming a N.O.B.L.E. Scholar?  Click here for infographic with QR code to sign up for more information.

Volunteer Opportunities – Get your hours in to be a N.O.B.L.E. Scholar!
N.O.B.L.E. Scholars need 40 hours of community service.

These local businesses have volunteer opportunities available for High School students.  

AAUW Nacogdoches   Alcohol & Drug Abuse Council  Bryant 1 Consulting 
Coldwell Banker Blueberry Realty  Royal B Threads LLC   
Still Interiors at The Fredonia  Timber Creek Church

N.O.B.L.E. Scholarship:
The N.O.B.L.E. Scholarship for $1,000 is awarded to selected N.O.B.L.E. Scholars who plan to attend Stephen F. Austin State University.  The application is available in the Spring. The N.O.B.L.E. Scholarships 2021 were provided by major sponsor Citizens 1st Bank; Etech; Fairchild, Price, Haley & Smith, LLP; and Laird Funeral Home.

A selection committee from the education and business communities will review each application and determine scholarship recipients. Incomplete applications will NOT be considered for selection. Scholarships will be disbursed through the financial aid office at Stephen F. Austin State University and then dispersed to the student at the rate of $500 per semester in which the recipient is enrolled for 12 or more semester hours and is in good standing academically.   

SFA-Chamber Connection
This committee includes special programs such as Business Internships (see links posted below) and Paint The Town Purple. They develop contacts at SFA that can be used as resources for the business community, lead Chamber efforts in helping SFA recruit students and help businesses reach students and parents as potential customers.

Click to go to the Jobs4Jacks site and hire an SFA student for your business.
Click here to go to an employer's resource page with opportunities for businesses to connect with SFA students.

Mission:
The SFA-Chamber Connection builds a strong connection between Nacogdoches and SFASU, specifically by helping students become familiar with the community and its businesses.

Committee normally meets online via GoToMeeting at 8:30 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month.

Conducts special programs such as: Spirit Flags subscriptions; assists SFA Athletics with Cram the Coliseum; develops contacts at SFASU that can be resources for the business community; leads Chamber efforts in helping SFA recruit students; assists SFA in reaching business community to promote the university; assists businesses in reaching students and parents as potential customers.

Committee Activities
Spirit Crew Flags and All Day, Everyday Flags
Goal is to facilitate a subscription service with businesses to create a dynamic visual image of purple SFA flags on main city streets for home football games, orientation, showcase days, etc. The SFA Cheer & Dance Teams install and retrieve flags for each event day. The group receive the funds for the project, cover flag costs and disperse surplus funds to local charities. Program initiated in 2005. More than 100 flags are now in service.

SFA - Chamber Other joint ventures
Nacogdoches/SFA Day in Austin
This annual event allows community leaders to form a large, united front when visiting Austin legislators. The reception attracts about 300 attendees in Austin.

Lone Star Legislative Summit
Initiated in 2006, this biennial event offers SFA and Nacogdoches an opportunity to showcase our programs and facilities right here in the First Town in Texas. Statewide officials – including the Governor and the Speaker of the House – may attend. The event is hosted by Senator Robert Nichols and Representative Travis Clardy and produced by the Chamber.

Agriculture Appreciation and Awareness
SFA and the Chamber are among the cooperative groups organizing these annual awards to the Farm Family of the Year, Ag Pioneer, Agribusiness, and Ag Educator of the Year. At the banquet, Ag organizations from SFA are feature in displays. An Ag Tour was initiated in 2005 that features the university’s role in blueberry, poultry, beef and other production. A number of scholarships are awarded to current and future SFA Agriculture, Forestry and Environmental Science students.

Internships
The Nacogdoches County Chamber was included in efforts to centralize internship information access/sharing for students and the business community. The Lumberjack Internship Program was created in partnership with Nacogdoches Economic Development Corporation, SFA Career Services and the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber typically offers six to eight internships per year to SFA students. These are often communication, hospitality and marketing students. Several students have used their internship experience to gain a job following graduation. Several students have obtained jobs with organizations similar to the Chamber.

Publicity
SFA is featured on the Chamber website, in the Nacogdoches Guide and on the Chamber map. The Chamber provides lobby space for SFA materials. SFA and the Chamber are part of group that constructed and landscaped a Welcome to Nacogdoches and Stephen F. Austin State University sign on at city’s southern entrance on U.S. Hwy 59.

Nac Fast Track
This committee is available to help SFA and other major employers during recruiting of key employees. When the trailing spouse or significant other is seeking employment information, the resume is forwarded by e-mail to the Chamber, then distributed to committee members. They can use their connections to possibly assist the prospect to employment sources. Several candidates have found jobs through the program.

Future Programs in the development stage:

Adult Education:
Subcommittee Chair – Mario Torres
The Adult Education program is new to the Education Committee and is in the planning stages.  The Adult Education program is looking at both professional and personal development through educational experiences.  If you are interested in assisting with developing this program please call 936-560-5533.

Job Shadowing Program:
The Education Committee is exploring the possibility of connecting high school juniors with the opportunity to job shadow with local businesses. Job shadowing hours may be applied to community service hours for the N.O.B.L.E. Scholars program.