NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Phoenix, Arizona, artist David Shannon-Lier won first place in the 2016 Texas National Competition and Exhibition at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Commenting on the high quality of work entered in the 22nd Texas National event, Juror Abelardo Morell selected Lier's piece titled "Grassland Moonset, Gla National Forest, New Mexico" the top honor.

Second place went to Albuquerque, New Mexico, artist Serena Stevens for "Just Keep Swimming," and third place went to Portland, Maine, artist Betsy Lewis for "Finale (3)."

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin State University's James I. Perkins College of Education recently hosted its end-of-the-semester celebration to honor teacher candidates as they reach the culmination of student teaching and their educator preparation, according to Dr. Jannah Nerren, associate dean of assessment and accountability.

During the event, representatives from the college of education's educator preparation program presented several SFA seniors with awards for their work during the semester.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin State University's Nelson Rusche College of Business awarded $2,500 each to top scholars in its Student Success Passport Program.

The program, which began in fall 2015, aims to help students hone their professional skills through workshops, conferences and online assignments while competing for scholarships.

Braxton Berthot, an SFA freshman general business major from Douglass, Texas, received a scholarship.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin State University professors in several departments were recently awarded a second round of funding from the National Science Foundation's Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program totaling just over $1 million.

The Noyce program seeks to encourage talented science, technology, engineering and mathematics majors and professionals to become K-12 STEM teachers.

NACOGDOCHES - Christopher Talbot, director of the School of Art at Stephen F. Austin State University, announced the recipients of SFA and Friends of the Visual Arts Scholarships for the 2016-2017 academic year at the recent opening of the 33rd Annual Art Alliance Spring Show. More than $34,000 in scholarships was awarded.

Recipients included:

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Art Alliance student organization at Stephen F. Austin State University recently held its 33rd Annual Spring Art Show in the School of Art galleries. Forty-three art students entered 86 works.

Abelardo Morell, distinguished photographer and juror of Texas National 2016, juried the show. He chose 41 works for inclusion.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin State University theatre major Kathleen Easterling of Central Heights was recently selected as one of two national Alpha Psi Omega Scholarship recipients for 2015-2016.

Continuing a tradition of excellence in the SFA School of Theatre, Easterling's selection represents the fourth time in seven years an SFA theatre student has been chosen for this prestigious award, according to Dr. Richard Jones, professor of theatre at SFA and advisor to SFA's Beta Phi cast of Alpha Psi Omega. Jones nominated Easterling for the award.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin State University Psychology Club and Psi Chi chapter, an international psychology honors society, will host the inaugural Psychology Research Seminar Conference Tuesday, May 10, in the McKibben Education Building.