Stephen F. Austin State University has reported a spring student enrollment of 12,029, the highest spring semester enrollment in the university's history.

The number of SFA students attending classes grew by 7.2 percent or 803 students between spring 2009 and spring 2010, marking the eighth consecutive reporting period with an enrollment increase. The highest previous SFA spring enrollment was recorded in 1984 with a headcount of 11,886.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas-Celia Jones, of Gibsland, LA, will present "Granny's Daffodils" at the Stephen F. Austin State University Les Reeves Garden Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, in Room 110 of the Agriculture Building on Wilson Drive.

Jones restored her grandmother's Louisiana bulb farm and in the process learned that heirloom daffodils, jonquils and narcissus were much more adapted to southern gardens than commercial Dutch daffodils.

Future college students will have the opportunity to experience a taste of campus life during a free, action-packed open-house event at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches on two upcoming Saturdays, Feb. 20 and March 27.

Prospective students will get to visit with university faculty and staff, tour the campus and residence halls, and preview academic programs during the last two SFA Showcase Saturday events this academic year.

Deb Scott

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Deb Scott, assistant professor of trombone at Stephen F. Austin State University, and Ron Petti, SFA director of accompanying, will present a faculty recital at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Other performers on the diverse program of music will be SFA music faculty members Jennifer Dalmas, Scott Harris, Evgeni Raychev, and SFA senior Fahad Awan of Nacogdoches.

SFA Assistant Professor Brian Utley will be the featured soloist on the SFA Wind Symphony's world premiere performance of L. Mark Lewis' "Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Orchestra" during the "American Horizons" concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, in W.M. Turner Auditorium.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F.

John Tatum of Mission Tejas State Park will guide guests on a tour of Texas history.

The Nacogdoches Naturally program of Stephen F. Austin State University's Pineywoods Native Plant Center will host a day trip to Mission Tejas State Park on Saturday, Feb. 6.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre will present a student-directed production of "Bad Boy Nietzsche" in the Downstage Theatre of the Griffith Fine Arts Building at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, and at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13.

Playwright Richard Forman bases his one-act play on the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche's poems and letters to reveal a lonely man spurned by unrequited love for a beautiful woman, explained El Campo senior David Hathway, the play's director.

The play is recommended for mature audiences only.

Stephen F. Austin State University's Richard and Lucille DeWitt School of Nursing has earned the prestigious "Center of Educational Excellence" designation from the Laerdal Medical Corporation.

The designation is awarded to educational centers that have consistently demonstrated excellence in educational philosophy and programs for the purposes of "helping save lives," the company's motto. The DeWitt School of Nursing is one of only 15 centers in the nation to receive the award.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Music Preparatory Division at Stephen F. Austin State University will offer a children's choir this spring, under the direction of Brandon Nichols, SFA graduate student in choral conducting. Monica Hamilton, SFA vocal performance graduate student, will assist Nichols.