Four students selected for 2025 Best of SFA Awards

NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- The Stephen F. Austin State University Division of Student Affairs named Garrett Bates of Frisco, Kate Middleton of Mansfield, Kently Northcutt of Crandall, and Olivia Wintz of Killeen as recipients of the 2025 Best of SFA Award.

"Our SFA student leaders all deserve recognition for the incredible impact they have on the university," said Dr. Lacey Folsom, director of Student Engagement. "Out of all our wonderful students, the committee selected these four recipients for consistently demonstrating the spirit of the Best of SFA Award through their enthusiasm, commitment and hard work."

The awards are presented annually to honor students who excel in the areas of scholarship, participation and leadership in academic and cocurricular activities as well as service and loyalty to the university. These students are recognized during the Lumberjack Achievement Awards Banquet held each spring semester and go on to represent SFA throughout the following academic year.

Garrett Bates

Bates is an accounting major and a graduate of Frisco Independence High School. He is the son of Stephanie Gilkey and Jeremy Bates.

At SFA, Bates served as president of Omega Delta Phi fraternity from spring 2023 to fall 2024 and accumulated over 60 hours of service each semester while participating in the organization's initiatives. One of those was the OD5K, which is held every semester with all proceeds benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project. In 2023, Bates was named Order of Omega Greek Man of the Year.

In addition to leadership roles in his fraternity, Bates served as an SFA Orientation leader, an Orientation student coordinator, an Orientation business intern, a Jack Camp counselor and a Weeks of Welcome leader. He was named Orientation Leader of the Year in 2023.

Off campus, Bates works as the assistant manager at the Nacogdoches Whataburger.

Bates plans to graduate next month and move back to the Dallas area to begin a career as an accountant. He intends to pursue a master's degree in accounting with the long-term goal of managing the financial operation of his family's landscaping business.

Kate Middleton

Middleton is a psychology major with a minor in Latin American studies and women and gender studies. A graduate of Mansfield High School, she is the daughter of Angela Middleton and Martin Hernandez.

During her time at SFA, Middleton served as the vice president of community relations for Delta sorority and planned diversity, equity, inclusion, access and belonging educational programming for the organization. She assisted with National White Cane Safety Day, raised funds for All Blind Children of Texas, supported Special Olympics track team events and helped with the Miracle League baseball team. As a member of Delta and the Omicron Delta Kappa honor society, Middleton volunteered at local elementary schools, the Nacogdoches Animal Shelter, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, SFA's Big Event and more.

Middleton has served as a student intern at the Counseling Clinic in SFA's Department of Human Services and Educational Leadership. In addition, she has presented at panel discussions on the guide dog lifestyle to help educate the public on guide dog usage and care. She also is a Panhellenic delegate as well as a member of the Psychology Club, Braille and Cane Club, SFA's School of Honors, Psi Chi psychology honors society and more. Middleton received the Outstanding Undergraduate Student in Psychology Award and the Outstanding Research in Psychology Award. She also was a 2025 Undergraduate Research Conference finalist.

Slated to graduate next month, Middleton aspires to become a counseling psychologist and plans to pursue a graduate degree in counseling or clinical psychology. Her dream job is to serve as director of a university counseling clinic, where she can help students navigate one of the most thrilling and challenging part of their lives.

Kently Northcutt

Northcutt is an agriculture development major, a graduate of Crandall High School and the daughter of Pamela Northcutt.

She is a member of Chi Omega sorority, Order of Omega honor society, Omicron Delta Kappa honor society, Future Agricultural Educators Club, Student Activities Association and more. In addition, Northcutt has served SFA as a Jack Walker, Orientation leader, Jack Camp counselor and SAA vice president of internal relations. She also served on the Junior Rodeo Committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Northcutt received the Star Student Award from the Department of Agriculture in 2024, SAA President's Service Award in 2023, Best of SAA Award in 2023, Top 23 Freshmen Award in 2022 and more.

Northcutt plans to graduate in December and begin her career as a high school agriculture sciences instructor to teach animal science and floral design. She hopes to serve as her school's Future Farmers of America advisor.

Olivia Wintz

Wintz is a theatre and hospitality administration major. A graduate of C.E. Ellison High School, she is the daughter of Dalia Lopez-Wintz and Andrew Wintz.

Wintz has served SFA as a Jack Walker, Orientation leader, Jack Camp counselor and School of Theatre and Dance peer mentor. She is involved in several organizations, including Multicultural Greek Council, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Order of Omega honor society, Omicron Delta Kappa national honor society, League of United Latin American Citizens, Black Student Caucus, Multicultural Ensemble and SFA's School of Honors.

She received the Top 23 Freshmen Award in 2023, Student of the Year Award for the School of Theatre and Dance in 2023 and several scholarships. Wintz also has made the President's List five times and was recently interviewed for the Archer Fellowship opportunity. She will be featured in SFA's upcoming episode of Amazon Prime's "The College Tour."

Slated to graduate in spring 2026, Wintz plans to pursue a career in the entertainment sector, focusing on television, film or theatre in a major U.S. city such as Houston or Atlanta.