NACOGDOCHES, Texas -Jack Heifner, Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre's playwright-in-residence, has been selected as a new member of the Texas Playwriting Hall of Fame.

It is an honor that reflects the caliber of the SFA theatre faculty, according to Scott Shattuck, director of the School of Theatre.

"Jack's latest accolade is another reminder of the tremendous asset he has always been to SFA," said Shattuck. "The School of Theatre is a center of excellence because we have teacher-artists of this stature on our faculty."

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - John Handley, director of art galleries for Stephen F. Austin State University, is co-author of "The Religious Art of Pablo Picasso," a book that examines the use of religious imagery in the works of one of the best-known figures in 20th-century art.

Handley will travel to Berkeley, Calif., in May to join co-author Jane Daggett Dillenberger at a May 6 reception and book signing designed to celebrate the book's publication by the University of California Press.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and its Children's Performing Arts Series will present "Laura Ingalls Wilder" in two performances on Thursday, May 8, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus.

Presented by ArtsPower, this beloved story of Laura and her family as they travel across America in search of a place to call home targets children in second through sixth grades, according to Diane J. Peterson, SFA Fine Arts Box Office manager and director of the Children's Performing Arts Series.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Music will present the A Cappella Choir, Choral Union and Women's Choir performing their annual end-of-the-year celebration in the Choral Masterworks Concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 2, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin State University communication students will host a discussion regarding a proposed community peace and conflict resolution center from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 1, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Movie Theater on campus. Interested residents of Nacogdoches and surrounding communities are invited to attend.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - A new four-year engineering degree program to be offered by Stephen F. Austin State University's College of Sciences and Mathematics was approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Thursday.

Beginning this fall, students will be able to pursue a bachelor's degree in engineering physics with an emphasis in mechanical or electrical engineering at SFA. Graduates will be prepared to enter such diverse areas as mechanical controls, digital and analog electronics, instrumentation, robotics, and manufacturing process control.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and the Friends of the Visual Arts will present a free, one-night screening of "Chasing Ice" at 7 p.m. Friday, May 2, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

Directed and produced by Jeff Orlowski with photography by James Balog, "Chasing Ice" is the story of one man's mission to change the tide of history by gathering photographic evidence of the Earth's changing planet.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - During the opening reception of Texas National 2014 in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, juror Jerome Witkin announced the winners of the annual competition and exhibition presented by the Stephen F. Austin State University's School of Art.

Shelby Shadwell of Laramie, Wyo., received first-place honors for "A Universal Picture 11, 2014," while Pharr, Texas, artist Veronica Jaeger earned second place for "Fallen, 2012," and Columbia, Mo., artist Matthew Ballou won third for "Strategic Influences, 2013."

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The 2014 Bright Ideas Conference highlighting faculty research, scholarship and artistry at Stephen F. Austin State University will be held Thursday, May 1, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center. The public is invited, and admission is free.

More than 90 research posters and scholarly exhibits will be on display from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom. Spotlight exhibits will be featured in the Twilight Ballroom along with refreshments. An invitation-only awards ceremony and luncheon will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.