Everything Nac

Stephen F. Austin State University announced its naming of Hays Consolidated Independent School District as a partner chosen for inclusion in the university’s Distinguished High School Program during a recent signing event.

This partnership means that top-ranking graduates from high schools in the district will be automatically eligible for scholarships worth up to $20,000. Inclusion in the program also means all Hays students may waive the $50 application fee, and seniors ranking in the top 30% of their class are guaranteed admission to SFA.

“I’m proud of how many barriers our Distinguished High School Program is able to break down for students wishing to continue their educational journey,” said interim SFA President Dr. Steve Westbrook. “It’s one more layer in SFA’s expansive approach to making higher education affordable and accessible, and we’re thrilled to welcome Hays CISD as a partner excited to join us in that pursuit.”

Students from partner schools automatically receive scholarship money for up to four years based on their class rank. Of those who apply to SFA from distinguished program schools, students ranking in the top 10% of their class will receive $5,000 per year, and students ranking in the 11-25% of their class with a 3.0 GPA or higher will receive $3,000 per year. Submission of a scholarship application is not required.

“I am proud that our district is partnering with SFA and that all of our high schools have been designated as SFA Distinguished High School campuses. The opportunity this will create for our students is extraordinary,” said Dr. Eric Wright, Hays CISD superintendent of schools and three-time SFA graduate. “Our students will have access to a world-class university, and they’ll benefit from the specialized attention and assistance provided to them. As an alumnus, I can personally attest to the outstanding caliber of SFA. Go Lumberjacks!”

Benefits also include additional financial aid assistance to students with high financial need; a special, tailored campus visit; and an assigned admissions counselor to serve students throughout the college-enrollment process.

For more information about applying to SFA, visit sfasu.edu/apply or call (936) 468-2504.

Works of art created during summer residencies will be showcased in Stephen F. Austin State University’s annual School of Art Faculty Exhibition showing Aug. 30 through Sept. 30 at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

Each year, the faculty exhibition features a wide variety of artworks in ceramics, sculpture, photography, painting, prints, metals and mixed media, according to Christopher Talbot, director of the SFA School of Art.

“We are excited to see what our talented faculty has been up to,” said Erik Ordaz, exhibition coordinator for Cole Art Center. “This is always a wonderful opportunity to share their work with the community and to welcome our students to the new academic year.”

The show this year will feature works created by SFA art professors Lauren Selden and Shaun Roberts while they were on residencies this past summer in Finland and Norway, respectively, in a combined exhibition, “Nordic Proximity,” presented in the upstairs Reavley Gallery in Cole Art Center.

Selden, professor of metals/jewelry, completed an internationally competitive studio art residency at Fiskars AiR in Fiskars, Finland. The residency provided access to important and rare research resources, as well as offered studio space for the creative generation of conceptual and studio works, which Selden said will aid in advancing her study of Scandinavian and Nordic design. She also participated in a mid-career retreat at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The project was conducted using SFA Research and Creative Activity Grant funds.

Roberts, associate professor of painting, was accepted to study in the modern-day Renaissance workshop of the world-famous and accomplished painter Odd Nerdrum. There, students had two main goals: create a self-portrait and make a narrative painting.

An opening reception for the faculty shows will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30. Admission to the exhibition and reception, which is sponsored in part by William Arscott and the Friends of the Visual Arts, is free. The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, call (936) 468-5500.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Sept. 8 in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center.

Dr. Mike Arnold, professor of horticulture and director of The Gardens at Texas A&M University, will present “Plants, Built Environments, and Climate Change Challenges – Manifest Destiny in Action!”

“Dr. Arnold is one of the South’s leading horticulturists, and he brings a treasure trove of science and practical gardening information to all his programs,” said Dr. David Creech, SFA Gardens director. “He has unique insights into the impact of climate change and what the built landscapes of Texas will look like in the future.”

Arnold is a veteran horticulturist who has engaged in teaching, research, outreach and administrative responsibilities at Texas A&M for the past 30 years. Prior to that, he taught and studied plant materials at The Ohio State University, North Carolina State University and Tennessee Tech University.

Arnold holds doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s degrees in horticulture and a Bachelor of Business Administration. He has published 99 peer-reviewed articles; more than 100 editor-reviewed, industry or popular-press articles; and three editions of a previous textbook. He also is a frequent presenter at scientific and industry venues.

An American Society for Horticultural Science fellow, Arnold has served as president, board member and chair for the society. He has earned awards in teaching, research and extension from university, regional and national organizations.

The Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series is held the second Thursday of each month and includes a rare plant raffle after the program. The lecture is free and open to the public, but donations to the lecture series fund are always appreciated.

Parking is available at the PNPC and Raguet Elementary School, located at 2428 Raguet St.

For more information, call (936) 468-4129 or email sfagardens@sfasu.edu.