NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Following more than a year hiatus in competing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Stephen F. Austin State University timbersports team, the Sylvans, made a triumphant return during the Louisiana Forest Festival, winning the collegiate portion of the event’s timbersports competition.

“Our team did a great job representing SFA and our programs,” said Dr. Jeremy Stovall, professor of forestry and Sylvans faculty advisor.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University will hold seven commencement ceremonies for May 2021 to accommodate measures aimed at ensuring attendee safety.

May and August 2020 graduates are invited to participate in the May ceremony, and seating in the Johnson Coliseum will be adjusted to help ensure physical distancing. All attendees will be required to wear face masks.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Seven Stephen F. Austin State University faculty members recently were selected to receive Teaching Excellence Awards.

SFA’s Teaching Excellence program is an opportunity to recognize outstanding faculty members for their contributions to the university through excellence as teachers. Each of the university’s six colleges selects a member of its faculty to receive an award. One adjunct faculty member from among all colleges also is chosen.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Plans are being finalized for the May 1 outdoor music festival hosted by the Music Preparatory Division of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music in celebration of Music Prep’s 40th anniversary.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – In recent years, people have become familiar with “pop up” events, including spontaneous shopping fairs, street dances, festivals and art exhibitions. Sometimes opportunities arise when least expected, and graduate art students at Stephen F. Austin State University embraced the opportunity to show their work after an unexpected cancellation at the Ed and Gwen Cole Art Center @The Old Opera House.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music will present the A Cappella Choir performing the program “Hope is the Tide That Rises” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 1. The concert may be accessed virtually at music.sfasu.edu.

Under the baton of Dr. Michael Murphy, featured works are Franz Schubert’s Mass in G Major and the 2021 commission “Tides” by SFA’s own Reginal Wright, who earned music degrees from SFA in 1997 and 2007. The program also includes choral music by Joel Thompson, Lili Boulanger and Moses Hogan.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre will present Jane Martin’s “Talking With …” at 7:30 nightly through Saturday, April 24, in Kennedy Auditorium on the SFA campus for in-person audience performances and virtual performances. Senior theatre major Crayten Clendion of Cypress performs in “French Fries,” one of several monologues in the play that features idiosyncratic characters who amuse, move, frighten and always speak from the depths of their souls.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Several Stephen F. Austin State University political science students within the Department of Government were recently honored during the Midwest Model European Union Competition.

The MMEU Competition, hosted by Indiana University, is the second-oldest intercollegiate simulation of the European Union in North America. According to Dr. Steven Galatas, SFA associate professor of government and SFA Model EU faculty advisor, the competition allows students to immerse themselves in the policies and procedures of the EU.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin State University Singin’ Axes and Kantorei choirs will present their final concert of the spring semester titled “The Storm is Passing Over” in a livestreamed event performed at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 27, and accessible at music.sfasu.edu.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin State University’s new Electric Guitar Ensemble will perform in a virtual concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 28, under the direction of Larry Greer, School of Music adjunct faculty member and guitar instructor.

“Baroque to Bossa to Blues” concert will feature “Sinfonia XX” (fourth movement) by J.H. Roman; “Tequila” by D. Flores; “Blue Bossa” by Kenny Dorham; “Blues in the Closet” by Oscar Pettiford; and “Blues Walk” by Clifford Brown.