Stephen F. Austin State University has reported a spring student enrollment of 11,896, a 1.1-percent decrease from last year. The number of SFA students attending classes decreased by 133 students from spring 2010 to spring 2011.

The spring 2010 enrollment of 12,029 was the highest spring enrollment in the university's history and marked a 7.2-percent increase from the previous year. Although this spring's enrollment is slightly down from last year, it represents the second-highest spring enrollment in the university's history.

Future college students will have the opportunity to experience a taste of campus life during two free, action-packed open-house Saturdays at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches on Feb. 26 and March 26.

Prospective students will get to visit with university faculty and staff, tour the campus and residence halls, and preview academic programs during the two SFA Showcase Saturday events.

William VerMeulen

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - William VerMeulen, principal horn of the Houston Symphony Orchestra, will present a guest recital at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, in Cole Concert Hall as part of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music's Cole Performing Arts Series.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre will present a student-directed production of Jim Geoghan's "Tom and Jerry" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18, and at 2 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 19. All performances are in the Downstage Theatre located on the first floor of the Griffith Fine Arts Building.

Families can get hands-on gardening experience at Gardening 101 this Saturday at SFA.

Stephen F. Austin State University Gardens will host a beginning gardening class for the whole family from 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday, Feb. 12, in Room 110 of the SFA Agriculture Building on Wilson Drive.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music will present two separate bassoon recitals on Sunday, Feb 20, and Monday, Feb. 21. Dr. Eric Varner of Michigan will present a guest recital at 3 p.m. Sunday, and Dr. Susan Nelson of the SFA music faculty will present a recital at 7:30 p.m. Monday. Both recitals will be held in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Pianist Geneva Fung and flutist Christina Guenther, both of the SFA School of Music, will present a recital of opera-inspired works at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Stephen F. Austin State University music faculty members Drs. Christina Guenther (flute) and Geneva Fung (piano) will present "Opera-Inspired Works for Flute and Piano" at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Winners of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music's annual Concerto/Aria and Composition Contests will be featured during SFA's Orchestra of the Pines' "Center Stage" concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

A small fire was extinguished in a residence room on the second floor of Steen Hall during the early morning hours. There were no serious injuries. The fire broke out when a lamp fell on a bed and ignited the bedding. Students were evacuated across the street to the East College Cafeteria. Although the fire was small and extinguished quickly, there is water damage to the first and second floors. Cleanup is underway. Students on the undamaged floors have been allowed to move back to their rooms. Students who reside on the damaged floors were relocated to other rooms.

Dr. David Howard

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Dr. David Howard, associate director of choral activities at Stephen F. Austin State University, has been selected from a nationwide pool of applicants to be a part of a large chorus performing Hector Berlioz's "Grande Messe des morts, Op. 5" (or Requiem) at Carnegie Hall on Sunday, Feb. 13.

Robert Spano, music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, will conduct the work.