When Sharron and Roy Alston came to Nacogdoches in 1968, the azaleas and the dogwoods were in bloom, and Roy, a doctorate in math in need of a job, was offered a position in the SFA math department. All of it was just too much to turn down.

Goodbye, Lubbock. Hello, East Texas.

Four decades later, in 2008, Roy retired. He and Sharron, the parents of two sons, live out on four acres north of town. Life is good. But it's also catching up with them. What used to be easy isn't easy anymore, especially when it comes to keeping up with a big piece of land.

Both the president and the vice president of the Student Government Association for the 2020-2021 academic year are students in the Rusche College of Business. Chris Moore and Bre'Anna Locke are in office for their last year on campus, as both are expected to graduate in May. 

President Moore, of Carrollton, and Vice President Locke, of Dallas, took office in April.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — The Stephen F. Austin State University Office of Multicultural Affairs will discuss “Race and Representation in Media” during its upcoming Something to Chew On diversity series.

“At this meeting, we will focus on the racial representation of Black and/or African-Americans often seen in media, as well as the effects and impact it has on the community,” said Star Jackson, OMA graduate assistant.

NACOGODCHES, Texas — Surrounded by dense rainforest, Dr. Carmen Montana-Schalk, assistant professor of biology at Stephen F. Austin State University, dragged a net into the Rupununi River in Guyana hoping to catch a piranha. Having previously conducted research in the region, Montana-Schalk was the natural choice when the BBC show “Animal Impossible” needed an expert for an episode about piranhas.
 

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The A Cappella Choir at Stephen F. Austin State University will present the virtual concert “Songs for Eternity” when the ensemble performs at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 5.

The choir will perform works by J.S. Bach, Johannes Brahms, Ralph Vaughan Williams and William Hawley. The concert explores eternal love in both sacred and secular poetry, according to Dr. Michael Murphy, director of choral activities at SFA and the choir’s conductor.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University President Dr. Scott Gordon signed an articulation agreement with Alvin Community College during a virtual ceremony Feb. 22 to make a clear pathway for ACC students wishing to pursue a bachelor’s degree at SFA.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Music Preparatory Division of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music will celebrate its 40th anniversary with an all-day music festival on Saturday, May 1, at the Music Prep House, located at 3028 Raguet St.

The outdoor event will feature the talents of Music Prep’s outstanding student musicians and give local merchants the opportunity to showcase their businesses while showing support for the School of Music’s outreach program, according to Alba Madrid, Music Prep director and program instructor.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre’s presentation of the student-directed one-act play “Last Chance,” originally scheduled for Feb. 19 and 20, has been rescheduled for April 16 and 17.

Johana Lenington, senior theatre education major from Houston, directs “Last Chance,” written by SFA School of Theatre senior lecturer Jackie Rosenfeld. The play revolves around the lives of a young married couple and issues that develop as a result of alcohol addiction.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host the much-anticipated spring Garden Gala Day Plant Sale in a modified, reservation-only format April 10 through 14.

The plant sale will feature a wide variety of Texas tough perennials, shrubs and trees. Many hardy southeastern native plants will be available as well as colorful annuals, exotic tropicals and a variety of edible plants. An extensive plant list will be made available online when registration opens.