NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - New students interested in enrolling in private or group music lessons through the Music Preparatory Division of Stephen F. Austin State University and those who want to audition for the SFA Children's Chorus or Piney Woods Youth Orchestra can do so on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Music Prep House, 3028 Raguet St. in Nacogdoches.

The SFA Gardens will host its monthly Les Reeves Garden Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 19, in Room 110 of the Agriculture Building located on Wilson Drive on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus.

Dr. Jerry Parsons, retired Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Horticulturist, will present one of his classic entertaining and often irreverent programs titled "Seed Collection of Texas Heirloom Varieties and Unique Plants."

State Rep. Dan Branch, chair of the House Committee on Higher Education, will address new graduates during Stephen F. Austin State University's summer commencement ceremony Saturday, Aug. 14.

Since 2002, Branch has represented District 108, which includes parts of Dallas, Highland Park and University Park. He serves on the Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee and is a member of the Legislative Budget Board.

Morgan Cortines and Marty Prince

Morgan Cortines, 2010 graduate of Nacogdoches High School, poses with Marty Prince, president of the SFA Friends of the Visual Arts, who awarded Cortines a $750 scholarship from the friends organization during the May awards assembly at NHS. Cortines enrolled in Stephen F. Austin State University as an art major during the university's first summer session.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - As part of its monthly independent film series, the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and Friends of the Visual Arts will present a free, one-night screening of "No Impact Man: The Documentary" at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 6, at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, 329 E. Main St. in downtown Nacogdoches.

Laura Gabbert and Justin Schein's 93-minute documentary follows author Colin Beavan and his family as they abandon their high-consumption, 5th Avenue lifestyle and try to spend a year making a zero environmental impact.

Misha Galaganov, associate professor of viola at Texas Christian University, will be one of the featured musicians during the first and third concerts of the SFA School of Music's 2010 Chamber Music in the Pines Festival, which runs from Saturday, Aug. 7, through Sunday, Aug. 15.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Tickets are now available for the Stephen F.

Participants in the recent SFA/JAMP Camp toured the simulation laboratory at SFA's new DeWitt School of Nursing. Pictured (from left) are Saad Chaudhry of Nacogdoches, Caitlin Vann of Coldspring and Cody Welch of College Station.

Twenty-six high school seniors recently got a taste of what it's like to be pre-med students during a week-long immersive camp hosted by Stephen F. Austin State University.

American Bluegrass Masters Tour

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS -Through the course of half a century, the College of Fine Arts at Stephen F. Austin State University has expanded what began as a two-event series of nationally acclaimed artists to the current University Series, a collection of five national touring events, four College of Fine Arts productions and four free art exhibitions.