NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Zoé Smiley, a Corrigan junior pre-veterinary medicine major, and Laken Read, a Chester sophomore agriculture development major at Stephen F. Austin State University, are recipients of the 2016 Future Farmers of America American Degree, recognized as one of the organization’s highest honors.

Less than one percent of FFA members receive the honor, which celebrates members who have demonstrated the highest level of commitment to the organization, as well as significant accomplishments in agricultural education.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Swingin’ Axes and Swingin’ Aces jazz bands at Stephen F. Austin State University will perform a concert of jazz masterpieces at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Dr. R. Scott Beasley, professor emeritus of forestry and former dean of Stephen F. Austin State University’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, was inducted into the Texas Forestry Hall of Fame at a reception held Monday, Nov. 7, at the Texas Forestry Museum in Lufkin.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Organized by Stephen F. Austin State University’s geography program within the Department of Anthropology, Geography and Sociology, an attorney for the Native American Rights Fund will serve as guest speaker for the 2016 Geography Awareness Week taking place nationally Nov. 13 through 19.

Steven Moore’s presentation, titled “Legal History of the Peyote Religion and Its Connections to Texas,” will begin at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, in Dugas Liberal Arts North, Room 142, on campus. The event is free and open to the SFA and Nacogdoches communities.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – In many ways, Mae Johnston is a typical sixth-grade student. She plays the drums in her school band, and she’s on the swim team. She plays piano, watches YouTube and listens to music. She enjoys playing video games on her phone, and she loves Pinterest, “because Pinterest is best.”

Most of her friends are guys, because “you know, guys are less drama,” she said.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — As Stephen F. Austin State University senior Morgan Dison from Tatum flips open the book, colorful illustrations cover the page and invite the kindergarten students sitting in front of her to learn more about Ellen Ochoa, the first Hispanic female astronaut.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Children’s Performing Arts Series at Stephen F. Austin State University will present two performances of “Celebration USA! America Sings!” on Friday, Dec. 2, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus.

Presented by Stars Within Reach Productions, “Celebration USA! America Sings!” features a variety of musical styles – from soulful gospel to sultry swing, heartfelt country to rock-n-roll – to track the cultural and historical moments that helped shape the nation, according to Diane Peterson, Fine Arts Box Office manager and coordinator of the series.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University alumni and faculty members from the deaf and hard of hearing program have raised funds to purchase a brick on the Walk of Recognition in memory of Niki Satterwhite, an SFA graduate who passed away from cancer in 2014.

The Walk of Recognition is located in the Sesquicentennial Plaza near the SFA fountain on campus, and the hand-etched bricks symbolize one’s tribute to the university.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University students and faculty members from the Rusche College of Business recently attended the O’Neil Center for Global Markets and Freedom 2016 Annual Conference: Capitalism — Curse or Cure?

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Guest artists Paul Christopher and Milovan Paz will present a program of cello duos by French composer Jacques Offenbach when they perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29, in Cole Concert Hall on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus.

Selections will be drawn from the artists’ two recordings of Offenbach cello duos, as well as an ensemble piece for multiple cellos, featuring the SFA cello studio under the direction of Dr. Evgeni Raychev, cello instructor in the SFA School of Music.