NACOGDOCHES, Texas -— Brett Payne hasn't always had a beard, but now that he's the newest face of the Lumberjack mascot, it's just another part of the job.

“I was really skeptical about coming into it, but the spirit team took me in with open arms and with no beard at all,” said Payne, senior marketing major of Houston.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Several Stephen F. Austin State University students proved to be among the best in advertising, marketing and graphic design during the annual American Advertising Federation-Houston Student Conference and Competition.

This conference, which brings together the advertising, marketing and communications disciplines, challenged students with creating an advertising campaign for a real client. This year students created a campaign for Mattress Firm.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — In a science-fair-like atmosphere, students at Raguet Elementary School select objects from among an array of recycled materials to bring their own inventions to life during Novel Engineering, a collaborative event.

In an effort to focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related projects, Stephen F. Austin State University, Raguet Elementary School and Nibco, an industrial and residential manufacturing company, partnered to bring Novel Engineering to Nacogdoches.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — As part of their annual Thanksgiving Homebound food drive, members of Stephen F. Austin State University’s Jack’s Council on Family Relations collected and donated food to 137 families, which is the most families this drive has served since it began in 2011.

JCFR is a student organization focused on building networks and helping families within the community. It is part of SFA’s School of Human Sciences.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Children’s Performing Arts Series at Stephen F. Austin State University will present two performances of the holiday classic “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” on Tuesday, Nov. 27, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus.

Inspired by the timeless poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” and the real life of its author, Clement Moore, this funny musical introduces Santa Claus in a particularly beneficent light, according to Diane Peterson, SFA Fine Arts Box Office manager and director of the children’s series.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS – The Trombone Choir at Stephen F. Austin State University will perform a recital at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

The 32-piece Trombone Choir, under the direction of Dr. Deb Scott, professor of trombone in the SFA School of Music, and Dr. Danny Chapa, low brass instructor, will play several beautiful chorales.

The program features “Hear the Voice and Prayer” by Thomas Tallis, transcribed by Robert P. Holland, and The Beatle’s “Yesterday,” arranged by Dr. A.C. “Buddy” Himes, dean of the SFA College Fine Arts.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Stephen F. Austin State University voice students will present a program of musical theatre and opera scenes in a performance that features the Broadway hits of Leonard Bernstein at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

“Bernstein on Broadway … and More!” will showcase students enrolled in the Opera Workshop class taught by Dr. Deborah Dalton, associate professor of voice and director of opera.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — The Texas Forestry Association presented Dr. Kenneth Farrish, Arnold Distinguished Professor and director of Stephen F. Austin State University’s Division of Environmental Science, with the Project Learning Tree Forestry Innovation Award during the association's annual convention held in October at Moody Gardens in Galveston.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – A reception for artist Kymia Nawabi whose work is showing at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House through the end of the year is planned for 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, at the art center in downtown Nacogdoches.

“Kymia Nawabi: Not for Long, My Forlorn” features a series of large-scale drawings that “acted as meditations on life and death channeled through ravenous, otherworldly beings and animals that inhabit a purgatory-like space,” according to the artist.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — The SFA Gardens will host a garden seminar, “Deck the Halls — Using Evergreens to Decorate for the Holidays,” from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Dec. 1, at the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Stephen F. Austin State University 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. Join Dawn Stover, research associate at SFA Gardens, to learn how to create elegant wreaths and garlands using materials from the garden.