NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Due to a high number of expected graduates of Stephen F. Austin State University this spring, the May 11 commencement exercises will be split into two ceremonies for the first time.

Graduates from SFA's James I. Perkins College of Education and College of Fine Arts will participate in a 9:30 a.m. ceremony that Saturday. Candidates from the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, the Nelson Rusche College of Business, the College of Liberal and Applied Arts, and the College of Sciences and Mathematics will participate in a 2 p.m. ceremony.

The grand opening and ribbon cutting for the Nacogdoches Azalea Trail

The Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors Bureau and Stephen F. Austin State University recently hosted a grand opening and ribbon cutting for the Nacogdoches Azalea Trail in the Council Ring of the Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden on the SFA campus. The event kicked off the 15th annual Azalea Trail, which continues through March 31.

The SFA School of Art will host an Art Educators' Retreat June 16 through 20 on the SFA campus. Deadline for registration is May 24.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS-Registrations are still being accepted for the Art Educators' Retreat, a four-day workshop for art educators offered by the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art.

NACOGDOCHES - Members of the Piney Woods Chorale will have a garage sale to raise money for the group's upcoming trip to Orlando, Fla., where they will perform at Disney World.

The sale will be held all day Saturday and Sunday, March 16 and 17, at Nacogdoches Trade Days, 1304 N.W. Stallings Drive, in conjunction with the monthly weekend marketplace.

NACOGDOCHES - The Swingin' Axes and Swingin' Aces jazz bands of Stephen F. Austin State University will perform concerts beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7, in Cole Concert Hall in the Wright Music Building on the SFA campus.

The performances will feature a number of student soloists.

The Swingin' Axes, under the direction of Gary Wurtz, professor of trumpet and jazz studies at SFA, will perform Sammy Nestico's famous "Wind Machine" and Pat Metheny's "It's Just Talk," featuring senior trombonist Webb Gardner of Katy and graduate pianist Keith Lalonde of Manvel.

SFA will host a free screening of the award-winning documentary "The Invisible War." Image courtesy of Cinedigm/Docurama films.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas-The gender studies, military science and student affairs programs at Stephen F. Austin State University will host an event to bring awareness about sexual assault on Monday, March 4, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Theater.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - With spring around the corner, the Stephen F. Austin State University Debate Team is warming up to host the first SFA/Lee College "Spring Swing Debate Tournament."

Debate teams from SFA and Lee College, located in Baytown, will co-host the tournament March 8-10. All students and faculty and staff members are invited to attend the debates and/or volunteer to help organize or judge the event.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Gov. Rick Perry will add his handprints to a collection of concrete handprints during a ceremony at 2:45 p.m. Thursday in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Spirit Lounge at Stephen F. Austin State University. The collection serves as a tribute to leaders who have left a permanent impression on SFA and on higher education in Texas.

John Migas

The SFA Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden is once again proud to host the annual Nacogdoches Azalea Trail Symposium Saturday, March 2, in Room 110 of the Agriculture Building, 1924 Wilson Drive.