NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Tickets to The Purple Xperience, the most authentic Prince tribute show in the world, are still available for the group’s Nov. 30 concert at Stephen F. Austin State University.

A special Encore Event in the College of Fine Arts’ University Series and sponsored in part by Lehmann Eye Center, The Purple Xperience is a five-piece group that transports the spirit and sound of Prince direct from Minneapolis.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House will host a holiday exhibition that provides a glimpse into the celebrations of Christmas from bygone eras.

The Christmas display, which shows Dec. 1 through Dec. 30, includes vintage and antique ornaments, decorations, dolls and toys from days gone by. The vignette will offer a glimpse into how this favorite holiday was celebrated 100 years ago, according to John Handley, director of art galleries for Stephen F. Austin State University.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The choirs at Stephen F. Austin State University, along with many guest musicians, will present SFA’s traditional holiday concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the university campus.

The highly anticipated “Christmas Celebration” concert will feature “Lux Aeterna” (Light Eternal) by acclaimed contemporary composer Morten Lauridsen, along with other seasonal favorites, according to Dr. Michael Murphy, director of choral activities for the SFA School of Music.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University students in the School of Human Sciences wrapped up their fourth annual Cooking Matters program with a graduation ceremony and game night.

During this six-week collaborative course with the East Texas Food Bank, SFA students worked with community members to educate them on healthy eating habits and budgeting.

SFA students helped administer the program to community members connected with the Helping Other People Eat organization. This year, 18 community members graduated from the program from among 20 participants.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Music Preparatory Division in the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music will present its students performing in a number of upcoming fall recitals.

Piano students of SFA music major instructors and students of Dr. Mario Ajero will perform at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, in Music Recital Hall in the Tom and Peggy Wright Music Building on the SFA campus.

A harp and saxophone recital will feature the students of Susanna Campbell and Nicholas Bissen at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3, in the Music Recital Hall.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — A group of Stephen F. Austin State University students and faculty members recently presented research at the National Council of Teachers of English Convention in Houston along with students from the Nacogdoches Independent School District.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University College of Liberal and Applied Arts Associate Dean Dr. Mark Sanders, professor of English, won the 2018 Nebraska Book Award in the nonfiction biography category for “The Weight of the Weather: Regarding the Poetry of Ted Kooser.”

Sanders’ book is a collection of interviews, literary memoirs and critical analyses of Kooser and his poetry. Sanders established himself as one of the first scholars on Kooser’s poetry when he began conducting studies and interviews in 1977.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The estate of the late Nancy Delaney will fund two endowed scholarships for deserving students within Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Art and College of Fine Arts.

The scholarships will be funded in part through proceeds from a jewelry sale planned for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host a Veggie Gardening 101 workshop to share methods for growing successful vegetables in East Texas.

The event will run from 9 a.m. to noon March 21 in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building, Room 101, at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, located at 2900 Raguet St.