Russell Cannon, junior composition student from Garland, received the Texas Student Composer Award at a recent conference of the Texas Chapter of the National Association of Composers/USA.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - For the third consecutive year, a composition student from Stephen F. Austin State University has taken top honors at the annual meeting of the Texas Chapter of the National Association of Composers/USA.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Stephen F. Austin State University bands will present a free "Concert in the Park" at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 2, in the wooded area in front of the Baker Pattillo Student Center on the SFA campus.

Beginning at 1 p.m., Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma, honorary band service fraternity and sorority, will be selling $5 hamburger plates that include a hamburger, chips and a drink.

"We invite the SFA and Nacogdoches community to come join us for some great music by all four bands," said Fred J. Allen, SFA director of bands.

Cast members of Theatreworks USA's production of "Freedom Train" rehearse a scene from the children's musical, which the SFA Children's Performing Arts Series will present at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 11, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus. Photo by Jean-Marie Guyaux.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Seats are still available for Theatreworks USA's production of "Freedom Train," which the Stephen F.

The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and Friends of the Visual Arts will present a one-night screening of "American Teen" at 7 p.m. Friday, May 7, at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, 329 E. Main St. in downtown Nacogdoches.

The touching and hilarious film follows the lives of four teenagers-a jock, the popular girl, the artsy girl and the geek-through their senior year of high school in a small Indiana town, explained Christian Cutler, director of SFA galleries.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The combined choirs and orchestra at Stephen F. Austin State University will present Joseph Haydn's choral masterwork, "The Creation," at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 7, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus.

"Even though Haydn is noted as the 'father of the modern symphony and string quartet,' the composer considered 'The Creation' to be his greatest work," said Tim King, director of choral activities at SFA. "We are delighted to be presenting it to East Texas."

Dr. Hans Williams, professor of forestry and associate dean of the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture at Stephen F. Austin State University, has been named Regents Professor for the 2010-11 academic year.

The SFA Board of regents names one Regents Professor each spring. The honored faculty members each receive a medal and a $2,000 grant to support their research efforts.

The large co-ed cheerleading squad at Stephen F. Austin State University secured their 11th first-place victory in the division I National Cheerleaders Association championship this month in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The SFA pom squad and the small co-ed team each placed third in the division I competition. This year marks the 18th national victory overall for the SFA spirit program.

"We've had a remarkable run, putting us on par with the top athletic teams in the nation," said Michael Preston, director of student affairs and adviser of SFA spirit programs.

A Preserve America Workshop on the maintenance and cleaning of grave markers presented by Jason Church will be held Friday, April 30, with a presentation will be held at the J.R. Huffman Public Library in Hemphill from 11 a.m. to noon, followed by a demonstration at the Gasby New Zion Cemetery from 1:30 to 3 p.m.

Pictured are, front row from left to right: Megan Hutchison, Tara Smith, Piper Adkins, Taylor McGrath, and Elaine Garner. Second row: Miranda Adkins, Ashland Untiedt, Laura Dunn, Meadow Adkins, Hannah Ma, Kayela Davis, and Gabby Guidry. Back row: Dr. Debbie Dunn, camp director, and Dr. Robert Strader, associate director.

Local Girl Scouts participated in a mini-robotics camp sponsored by the SFA Department of Computer Science during spring break.