Outstanding Stephen F. Austin State University donors and faculty members will be honored during the 25th annual SFA Gala on Saturday, Dec. 14. Pictured at the 2012 SFA Gala, from left, are: Bud Wright, chair of the SFASU Foundation Board of Trustees; 2012 honorees Jim, John and Bob Kingham; Dr. Baker Pattillo, SFA president; and Jill Still, SFA vice president for university advancement.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Outstanding Stephen F.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - A number of violin students in the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music's Preparatory Division earned positions in All-Region orchestras earlier this fall in competition in Tyler.

The students are studying with Music Prep teachers Dr. Jennifer Dalmas, Brenda Josphesen and Melissa Nabb.

"Music Prep is very proud of these students for this great accomplishment," said Pat Barnett, director of the Music Prep division.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin State University Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band will present "JFK: In Memoriam" at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, in W.M. Turner Auditorium in Griffith Fine Arts Building on the SFA campus.

A joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music, the concert commemorates the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

The Symphonic Band, under the direction of Dr. Tamey Anglley, assistant director of bands, will open the concert with "An American Fanfare" by Rick Kirby.

Stephen F. Austin State University students were on the first-, second- and third-place teams at the recent American Advertising Federation conference and competition in Houston. The students had eight hours to create ad campaigns for a new digital radio station. More than 250 students from five states participated in the competition.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art has announced holiday closures for its galleries during the week of Thanksgiving.

The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House will be closed Thursday, Nov. 28, for Thanksgiving and open during regular hours Friday, Nov. 29, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30.

Regular hours for the art center are 12:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Donna Oliver (left) and Jean Dodge show off wreaths they created at the SFA Mast Arboretum's 2012 holiday seminar. The 2013 event is scheduled for Dec. 7 on the SFA campus.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin State University's Mast Arboretum will host a garden seminar titled "Deck the Halls - Using Evergreens to Decorate for the Holidays" from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin State University Dance Program will present "Danceworks," a concert featuring the SFA Repertory Dance Company and senior choreographic projects, Nov. 21-23 in the Lucille Norton HPE Complex Dance Studio, Room 201, on the SFA campus.

Directed by professor Stan Bobo and assisted by adjunct faculty member Heather Samuelson of the SFA Department of Kinesiology and Health Science, the concert will feature original works by faculty members, guest artist choreography and six senior dance majors' choreographic projects.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music and the Cole Performing Arts Series will present the Piney Woods Camerata performing "The World of Eric Carle" at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24, in Cole Concert Hall.

An American designer, illustrator and author of children's books, Eric Carle is most famous for the book "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," which has been translated into more than 50 languages.

Pictured from left to right on the campus of Beijing Forestry University are: Dr. Dave Creech, Stephen F. Austin State University; Dr. Ya Chen, Louisiana State University; Dr. MengMeng Gu, Texas A&M University; and Dr. Gary Knox, University of Florida.

Nacogdoches, Texas - Dr. David Creech, professor emeritus in the Stephen F. Austin State University Department of Agriculture, is part of a team of U.S. scientists visiting China for a U.S.