NACOGDOCHES, Texas-The Stephen F. Austin State University Department of English will host writers Jonis Agee and Brent Spencer as part of the department's spring reading series.

Agee is the author of several books, including five novels and five collections of short fiction. Her fiction works have received critical acclaim, and three of her books-"Strange Angels," "Bend This Heart" and "Sweet Eyes"-were named Notable Books of the Year by The New York Times. Her most recent novel "The River Wife" was selected by USA Today as one of the "Hot Summer Reads of 2007."

Mary McCleary

Mary McCleary, professor emeritus of the School of Art, will deliver the address "Things Seen, Things Not Seen" at the upcoming Stephen F. Austin State University Regents Lecture.

The talk, which will focus on how history, literature and science are reflected in McCleary's collages, will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, at the Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, located at 329 E. Main St.

The Texas Folklore Society will celebrate 100 years of collecting, preserving and sharing folklore at its annual meeting April 9-11 at Hotel Fredonia in Nacogdoches.

The 93rd annual meeting of the society will include a "hootenanny," guided bus tour of Nacogdoches, banquet, business meeting, presentations by folklorists and special events commemorating the 100th anniversary.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Four students from the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music will be the featured soloists during the SFA Symphony Orchestra's annual Concerto/Aria Winners concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Each fall, SFA music students enter the School of Music's annual competition, and the finalists have the unique opportunity of performing with a full orchestra, explained Gene H. Moon, director of orchestral activities at SFA and the Symphony Orchestra's director.

Doris and Jack Ledbetter, seated, with Doris and Dr. Andrew Parr

Doris and Jack Ledbetter, seated, recently hosted a fund-raiser in their home that brought in over $9,000 in scholarship funds for Stephen F. Austin State University piano students. Pictured with the Ledbetters are Linda and Dr. Andrew Parr, two of the SFA piano faculty performers. Other faculty performers were Dr. Mario Ajero, Mary Cooper, James Faucett, Dr. Gene Moon, Dr.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas-The Texas Education Agency and Texas GEAR UP program have named Stephen F. Austin State University's e-mentoring program a Texas GEAR UP Promising Practice, so that it may serve as an example for up-and-coming programs statewide.

Secondary education majors at SFA participate in the e-mentoring program, which pairs the future educators with high school students in rural East Texas who may not realize college is an option for them.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Area 6- to 12-year-olds may register for an art class offered by the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, 329 E. Main Street in downtown Nacogdoches, as part of the Creative Art Saturday program.

Participants will create nature photo prints under the supervision of Dr. Marsha Blount, SFA assistant professor of art; Matthew Sutherlin, SFA instructor of art; and SFA art education majors.

The Stone Fort Museum will launch the El Camino Real de los Tejas Heritage Education Project with a weekend workshop for heritage resource practitioners March 7-8 at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Designated as a National Historic Trail in 2004, the "King's Highway" - now Texas Highway 21 - has existed for more than 300 years. Workshop participants will be provided with a broad spectrum of information on the trail and tools for incorporating the information into interpretive programs related to the El Camino Real.

Operating hours at the Ralph W. Steen Library at Stephen F. Austin State University will change in observance of the school's spring break. On Friday, March 13, the library will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The library will be closed from March 14, to March 21.

Normal operating hours will resume on Sunday, March 22, at noon.