NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Senior interior design students at Stephen F. Austin State University will showcase their talents during the "Essence of Design" exhibit on display Feb. 6 through March 4 on the second floor of the Ralph W. Steen Library.

The exhibit is open to the public and will kick off with an opening reception from 10:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 6.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin State University's SFA Gardens and Nacogdoches Naturally are sponsoring the Great Backyard Bird Count from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St.

This free, outdoor event will have activities designed to increase knowledge and appreciation of birds for youth and adults. A variety of family-friendly, hands-on learning activities will be set up, including using binoculars, learning bird identification skills, playing bird games and making bird-related crafts.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Mario Ajero, associate professor of piano pedagogy at Stephen F. Austin State University, will present a faculty recital at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

The piano concert, which also features Ajero's children, Antonio, 11, and Olivia, 7, is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music and is part of the Cole Performing Arts Series.

Ajero has performed before SFA audiences with his son, who is an award-wining pianist, on several occasions.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Future college students will have the opportunity to experience a taste of campus life during a free, action-packed open house Saturday, Feb. 13, at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches.

Prospective students will have the opportunity to visit with university faculty and staff members, tour the campus and residence halls, and preview academic programs during the SFA Showcase Saturday event.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - A landscape design seminar will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the SFA Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St.

Make plans to explore the fundamentals of landscape design through presentations, discussions and hands-on activities led by SFA alumnus Seth Rodewald-Bates, a landscape architect for Spackman Mossop and Michaels, an international landscape architecture and urban design practice with offices in Sydney, Australia and New Orleans.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band at Stephen F. Austin State University will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

A presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music, the concert will both celebrate the great tradition of American music and feature European folk tunes.

The Symphonic Band, under the direction of Dr. James Dreiling, will begin the performance with a four-movement suite by famed band composer Frank Ticheli entitled "Simple Gifts: Four Shaker Songs."

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Tickets are still available for the radio theatre presentation of Bram Stoker's "Dracula" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Three ribbon-cuttings held in Stephen F. Austin State University's Nelson Rusche College of Business made history on Monday. According to President Baker Pattillo, it was the first time three ribbon-cuttings had been held in one day at the university.

The ceremony marked the official opening of three new features within the college - the Mattress Firm Commons, the Marleta Chadwick Student Financial Advisors suite and the Mark T. Layton Lobby.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Trio Mélange, composed of music faculty members of the University of Louisiana at Monroe, will perform new music for soprano, horn and piano in a recital at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7, in Cole Concert Hall on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus.

The concert is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music. The guest artist recital features Claire Vangelisti, soprano, Richard Seiler, piano, and James Boldin, horn, performing works of Carl Gottlieb Reissiger, Auguste Panseron, Eurico Carrapatoso and Gina Gillie.