NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - During its May 7 concert, the Stephen F. Austin State University Piney Woods Youth Orchestra will premiere "The Locomotive," an award-winning composition by 15-year-old Timothy Dow of Huntington.

Dow is a member of the orchestra, which is an offering of the Stephen F. Austin State University Music Preparatory Division, and takes private cello lessons from Dr. Evgeni Raychev, the orchestra's director and member of the SFA music faculty.

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.

Open to community college, elementary, middle and high school art teachers, the retreat will be held on the SFA campus Sunday, June 17, through Thursday, 21.

The retreat offers art educators a chance to renew their creative selves and to attend workshops, explained Dr. Marsha Blount, SFA assistant professor of art education and director of the retreat.

Dr. Kenneth R. Craycraft

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Dr. Kenneth R. Craycraft, executive vice president of Dallas-based Academic Partnerships, will offer the commencement address during Stephen F. Austin State University's spring graduation Saturday, May 12.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - For their final concert of the season at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, May 3, the three choirs of Stephen F. Austin State University will each present a sacred choral masterwork. To complement the works' religious subject matter, the concert will be held in Sacred Heart Church in Nacogdoches.

"Traditionally, at the end of each semester, the SFA choirs and orchestra combine to present one composer's single masterwork," said Dr. Tim King, SFA director of choral activities. "But this May we're making quite a change with three masterfully constructed compositions."

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - As part of its monthly independent film series, the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art will present a free, one-night screening of "Renaissance of Mata Ortiz" at 7 p.m. Friday, May 4, at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

Stephen F. Austin State University photographer Hardy Meredith

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Hardy Meredith, Stephen F. Austin State University photographer, received two awards at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education's recent District IV conference in Fort Worth.

During a recent visit to Stephen F. Austin State University, Arun Gandhi visited with International Student Association officers, from left, James Thomas, secretary; Theunis Oliphant, president; and Marym Lakhani, vice president. Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, has agreed to serve as a senior fellow for SFA's Center for a Livable Word.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Center for a Livable World at Stephen F.

STELLAR MOVEMENT - This recent time-lapse photo shows a 20-minute path of stars visible at the SFA Observatory. Photo by Stephanie Ballard, SFA photojournalism student

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - With the addition of a new, remotely operated telescope, the SFA Observatory is continuing to provide astronomy students access to stellar technology and out-of-this-world research opportunities.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Nacogdoches Naturally will host a family field trip to the Caney Creek Recreation Area on Saturday, May 5.

Participating families will meet at 8 a.m. at Stephen F. Austin State University's Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St., and ride in SFA vans or caravan in personal vehicles to the site.

Jake McAdams, SFA senior history student, was the recent recipient of the Ben H. Proctor Research Paper Award from the Phil Alpha Theta national historh honor socety.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Jake McAdams, a senior majoring in history at Stephen F. Austin State University, recently was awarded the Ben H. Procter Research Paper Award from the Phi Alpha Theta national history honor society.