NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The Music Preparatory Division of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music will register students for private lessons, classes and ensembles from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, in the Tom and Peggy Wright Music Building on the SFA campus.

The Stephen F. Austin State University Mast Arboretum will host its monthly Les Reeves Garden Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, in the Agriculture Building Room 110 on Wilson Drive. Dr. Jason Griffin from Kansas State University will present "Growing Trees on the Treeless Plains of Kansas." Griffin is an ornamentals and woody plants research scientist and serves as the director of the John C. Pair Horticulture Center in Haysville, Kan.

A free plant raffle will be held following the lecture. There is no charge for the lecture, and no reservations are required.

Two new accounting scholarships have been established at Stephen F. Austin State University. Pictured are, from left, Dr. John Lewis, interim vice president for development; SFA faculty members Sharron Graves and Dr. Treba Marsh; and Jill Still, director of development.

Two Stephen F.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - As part of its monthly film series, the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art will present a free one-night film screening of "King Corn: You Are What You Eat" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, in the Ledbetter Gallery of The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House, 329 E. Main St. in downtown Nacogdoches.

Pianists John and Jean Roberts are among the musicians presenting the "Romanticism Concert," the opening concert of the SFA School of Music's 2009 Chamber Music in the Pines Festival, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, in Cole Concert Hall. John Roberts is the new director of the SFA School of Music. A reception for the Roberts will be held immediately following the concert.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The opening concert of the Stephen F.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Scholarship applications are now being accepted for music instruction through the Stephen F. Austin State University Music Preparatory Division. The partial tuition scholarships are awarded on the basis of need and can be applied to private lessons or group instruction.

Application forms are available on the division's Web site, www.music.sfasu.edu/prep, or may be picked up in the SFA School of Music Office located in Room 150 of the Wright Music Building.

Attendees at the recent "12 x 12" fund-raiser view some of the 50 artworks created by local artists that were for sale. The event raised over $4,000 for the SFA Friends of the Visual Arts' scholarship fund.

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - The SFA Friends of the Visual Arts has announced that their recent "12 x 12" fund-raiser brought in over $4,000, which will be used for scholarships benefiting SFA visual arts students.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - A new director for the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music was among the staff and faculty appointments approved by the Board of Regents at its regular meeting Tuesday.

Dr. John N. Roberts assumed his new duties July 15, replacing longtime School of Music director Ron Anderson who has returned to full-time teaching. Roberts, a pianist, was formerly the Callaway Professor of Music at Mercer University in Georgia.

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents at its regular meeting Tuesday approved an operating budget of $212.9 million for the 2009-10 fiscal year, along with a capital budget totaling approximately $9.9 million.

The capital budget will fund extensive renovations to the Chemistry Building totaling approximately $6 million. Improvements to Kennedy Auditorium, campus entrance signage, several residence halls and other university facilities also are included.

Early Childhood Research Center ribbon-cutting

Current and former members of Stephen F. Austin State University's Board of Regents participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Early Childhood Research Center Sunday in Nacogdoches. Pictured are, from left, former Regent Kenneth James, Regent Bob Garrett, former Student Regent Stephanie Tracy, Student Regent Morgan Tomberlain, Regents Richard Boyer and Melvin White, former Regent James I.