NACOGDOCHES, Texas — The Angelina County Lumber Company log car located outside of Stephen F. Austin State University’s Forestry Building will be transported Friday, Nov. 12, to the Southern Forest Heritage Museum in Long Leaf, Louisiana. It will join other historic structures and machinery at the museum that has been recognized as the most complete historic sawmill complex in the Southern U.S. 

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Dr. I-Kuai Hung, Lacy H. Hunt Professor of geospatial sciences at Stephen F. Austin State University, was awarded the 2021 Carl Alwin Schenck Award from the Society of American Foresters during the virtual SAF National Convention held the first week of November.

The national award recognizes individuals who display a notable and sustained record of excellence in forestry education through outstanding service to the field and the development of dynamic, personal teaching methods.

Stephen F. Austin State University launched the public phase of its $100 million fundraising campaign in conjunction with Homecoming activities on Friday and announced plans to rename the College of Fine Arts in honor of a longtime Nacogdoches resident who had a deep love of the community and the arts. 

The new name, the Micky Elliott College of Fine Arts, was approved by SFA’s Board of Regents and recognizes the longtime support of the Elliott family and a recent gift of $8 million pledged to support scholarships for fine arts students.  

Two administrators new to Stephen F. Austin State University were among the appointments approved by its Board of Regents during the group’s quarterly meeting Monday.

Andrew Dies was named assistant vice president of student affairs and dean of students. Dies previously served as dean of students at Northern Arizona University, where he was chief student conduct officer and the primary contact for students in crisis, in addition to serving on the emergency management team and the academic standards committee.

The Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents approved a recommendation to move the dance program from the James I. Perkins College of Education to the College of Fine Arts. Dance will join the School of Theatre, and the name of the school will be changed to the School of Theatre and Dance. 

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stone Fort Wind Quintet at Stephen F. Austin State University will present its fall recital at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 8, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

The quintet is comprised of SFA School of Music faculty members Christina Guenther, flute; Graham Mackenzie, oboe; Christopher Ayer, clarinet; Andrea Denis, horn; and Margaret Fay, bassoon.

This concert of the Stone Fort Wind Quintet is the premiere performance for three new faculty members – Mackenzie, Denis and Fay.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host the wreath-making seminar “Deck the Halls: Using Evergreens to Decorate for the Holidays” from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 11 at the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, located at 2900 Raguet St.

Evergreen branches and garlands once served as symbols of enduring life and a fruitful year to come. Dawn Stover, SFA Gardens research associate, will teach participants how to create elegant wreaths and garlands using these and other materials from the garden.

Homecoming festivities at Stephen F. Austin State University were especially celebratory tonight when it was announced that $79.59 million has been raised in conjunction with SFA’s $100 million Capital Campaign, Elevate.

Daymond John, star of ABC’s Emmy Award-winning business reality show “Shark Tank,” was the guest speaker for the 2021 Nelson Rusche Distinguished Lecture Series event hosted by Stephen F. Austin State University’s Rusche College of Business. The FUBU founder was interviewed by Dr. Raymond J. Jones III, right, an assistant professor of entrepreneurship at SFA. For more information about the lecture series, visit sfasu.edu/Rusche.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas –Installation students in the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art will exhibit their installation artworks starting Nov. 5 at Fire House Nac in downtown Nacogdoches. “SFA Exhibition: Installation Art” will show through Nov. 20.

An opening reception is planned for 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5, at Fire House Nac, located at 708 Swift St. The exhibition opening will feature the performance “Cocktails on the Veranda” by Catherine Pears with her character Virginia Lee Sutherlin at 6:30 p.m.