Valerie Ertz

The three new members of the Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents appointed by Texas Gov. Rick Perry are very familiar with the campus.

Valerie E. Ertz of Dallas was reappointed to serve on the board for her second six-year term. The owner and president of VEE Services, Ertz has been a member of the board since 2003 and served as chair of the board in 2008.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Tracy Ward, adjunct music instructor at Stephen F. Austin State University, will present a faculty lecture recital on the music of Fred Rogers at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Ward, who has done extensive research on Rogers and his music, explained that even though Rogers is best known for his famed 'Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood,' he viewed himself first and foremost as a songwriter.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Ornaments decorated by Ster Dubberly, Liz Akamatsu and Sherry Ward were the top money-makers in the silent auction portion of the SFA Friends of the Visual Arts' recent fund-raiser, "Hooked on Art." During the four-week event, 24 ornaments bearing original works of art by local artists were on display at downtown business locations and at The Cole Art Center.

"The event was a great success," said Marty Prince, the group's president. "We exceeded our initial expectations by raising over $2,000 for the SFA art scholarship fund."

Dr. Gary Wurtz

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Gary Wurtz, SFA associate professor of trumpet, will present a faculty recital at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Paul Forsyth, assistant professor at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La., will present a guest saxophone recital at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, in Cole Concert Hall. Joining him will be pianist Elena Kuroda, also of NSU.

Forsyth is visiting SFA as part of an exchange between him and Brian Utley, SFA associate professor of saxophone. In addition to his recital, Forsyth will present a master class to SFA saxophone students, just as Utley did for NSU students in October.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The SFA Wind Ensemble will present a concert, "Contrasts: Old vs. New," at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, in W.M. Turner Auditorium.

This concert is a prelude to two upcoming performances for two very different audiences, explained Fred J. Allen, SFA director of bands and of the Wind Ensemble.

Students whose annual family income is $25,000 or less may now attend Stephen F. Austin State University free for four years as a result of the SFA Purple Promise approved by the Board of Regents Tuesday.

The Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents approved a slate of faculty and staff appointments, changes of status, promotions and retirements at a meeting Tuesday.

Michael S. Fountain, professor and associate dean of forestry and agriculture, was named professor and interim dean of the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture. Yanli Zhang was appointed assistant professor of water resources/spatial science.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Piano enthusiasts of East Texas can mark their calendars for two guest piano recitals to be presented by the Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Music.

James Nalley, a 2008 International Steinway Artist, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, and Kwan Yi, winner of the 2008 Schmidbauer International Young Artist Competition, will perform at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1. Both recitals are free and will be held in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.