NACOGDOCHES, Texas - History books can fall short when describing the sights, sounds and thrills of standing on some of America's earliest colonized lands.

Stephen F. Austin State University history undergraduate Hannah Russell of Houston had the opportunity to close her books and experience her favorite historical period firsthand this summer through an internship at Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation in Virginia.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - A group of Stephen F. Austin State University mass communication students recently spent two weeks in Europe meeting with high-profile journalism and media agencies in London and Paris.

Participants were accompanied on the trip by Dr. John Hendricks, chair of the Department of Mass Communication, and Dr. Linda Bond, associate professor of mass communication.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Only a few days are left for silent bidding on artwork for this year's 12X12 scholarship fundraiser of the Friends of the Visual Arts at Stephen F. Austin State University.

The silent auction features 12-by-12-inch pieces created by approximately 70 artists from Nacogdoches, Lufkin and other areas of East Texas. The art is on display in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches. Anyone may silently bid on the pieces. Bidding will continue until Saturday evening, July 16.

Stephen F. Austin State University senior hospitality administration major Nancy Layden of Houston has been interning at the Three Bears Restaurant in West Yellowstone since May.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - A family vacation to Yellowstone National Park started it all. When she was 14 years old, Stephen F.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and the Nacogdoches Film Festival will host "An Evening With Levie Isaacks, A.S.C." at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 8, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin State University's SFA Gardens will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 14, in the Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St. Ethan Guthrie, greenhouse and nursery manager for the Atlanta Botanical Garden's Smithgall Woodland Garden in Gainesville, Georgia, will present "Yes, We Really Are the Atlanta Botanical Garden, But We Are the One in Gainesville, Georgia."

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Most fans of the hilariously funny Steve Martin are familiar with him as an actor, stand-up comedian and banjo player.

Images of "a wild and crazy guy" exclaiming "Excuse me!" and performing the song "King Tut" on "Saturday Night Live" are ingrained in a generation of Martin devotees. As a film star, his roles in "The Jerk," "The Pink Panther," "Parenthood," "Cheaper By the Dozen" and dozens more comedies are legendary. Musically, he's known for his skillful banjo performances of bluegrass music.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Entering its 50th year, the High School Summer Theatre Workshop at Stephen F. Austin State University is the oldest program of its kind in Texas.

Two weeks of concentrated instruction in acting, voice and movement, or scenery, costumes, make-up, sound, lighting and stage management await sophomore, junior and senior high school students. Many workshop participants return to SFA in subsequent years to major in various aspects of theatre.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - A bright turquoise shape on a monitor is clicked and dragged left to right then vertically and horizontally so the details on each of its sides can be scrutinized.

Pointing to the computer screen, Stephen F. Austin State University history graduate student Amanda Carr of Pollok notes the bright yellow patches on the artifact's surface. Those indicate areas on the object, she explained, the complex 3D scanners housed in the Center for Regional Heritage Research on the SFA campus did not pick up.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - From the moment she stepped through the resort's doors, she was in awe of her surroundings. Decorations with an "Alice in Wonderland" theme brought back childhood memories, while a replica of the San Antonio River Walk transported her to the historic Texas city.

Recently, Dr. Mary Olle, assistant professor in Stephen F. Austin State University's School of Human Sciences, completed a four-day faculty internship with Marriott at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine.