NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents has approved an institutional budget for Fiscal Year 2014 totaling approximately $237.09 million, which includes a 3-percent merit pool for faculty and staff pay increases for the second consecutive year.

The planned allocations represent a 4-percent increase over last year's institutional budget. A $4.98 million capital plan also was approved by the board at its quarterly meeting Tuesday. The plan includes capital renewal, planned maintenance and renovation projects throughout campus.

The painting "Nola" by Carolyn Rorie won first place in the 2012 Watercolor East Texas Juried Exhibition.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The 29th Watercolor East Texas Juried Exhibition and this year's Nacogdoches Photographic Association Show will open with a combined reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, July 27, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Nacogdoches Naturally will host a Family Outdoor Adventure from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 20, at Lake Nacogdoches. This fun day will offer participants a chance to enjoy water activities and share food with family and friends.

Nacogdoches Naturally is a project sponsored by SFA Gardens in the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture at Stephen F. Austin State University and funded through a More Kids in the Woods grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-U.S. Forest Service.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The SFA Gardens at Stephen F. Austin State University will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 18, in Room 110 of the Agriculture Building at 1924 Wilson Drive on the SFA campus.

Julie Shackelford, programs director for The Conservation Fund, will present "Urban Wildscaping: Bringing your Backyard to Life." She will talk about creating backyard habitats to attract birds, butterflies and other pollinators using native vegetation.

Emily Rhoades

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Emily Rhoades, a voice student in the Music Preparatory Division of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music, was recognized as an outstanding performer at the 2013 Texas State Solo-Ensemble Vocal Solo Contest.

SFA School of Theatre student Bridgett Ochoa, center, is assisted by other students in changing out the sets for "Charlotte's Web" and "Godspell," the featured shows in the 2013 Summer Repertory season at SFA.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - What audiences will see on stage in Tuesday's performances of "Charlotte's Web" and "Godspell" in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the campus of Stephen F.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Parents have until July 31 to register their children for Music Discovery Camp, a summer camp offered each year by the Music Preparatory Division of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music.

This year's camp is scheduled from Aug. 5 through 9 with a theme of "Have a Blast With the Past," according to Music Preparatory Division Director Pat Barnett.

Dr. Manny Brand

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Like so many young musicians, Dr. Manny Brand's junior high school band director was his inspiration for wanting to be a music teacher.