Everything Nac

Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host a special presentation at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St. Brent Heath, a third-generation bulb grower, will present “Bulbs of the Deep South.”

Brent is a co-owner with his wife, Becky, of Brent and Becky’s Bulbs, a Virginia-based wholesale and retail mail-order bulb catalog and website business that offers numerous types of bulbs for sale to botanical gardens, cities, universities, landscape designers and gardeners across the country. The Heaths are daffodil hybridizers and have a number of small, multi-flowered, fragrant hybrids.

The couple has co-authored two books, “Daffodils for North American Gardens” and “Tulips for North American Gardens.” The Heaths also have both been featured guests on national television programs, including “The Victory Garden,” “Karen’s Garden” and “Martha Stewart.”

The Heaths have received numerous recognitions, including a Gold Medal of Honor from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in January 2001 and an individual Commercial Gold Medal from the American Horticultural Society in June 2001. In August 2002, the Garden Writer’s Association presented the Heaths with a lifetime achievement award by inducting them into the Garden Writer’s Hall of Fame.

The Wall Street Journal voted Brent and Becky’s Bulbs the “Best Bulb Company in America,” and in April 2003, the American Daffodil Society awarded Brent with a Gold Medal of Honor for popularizing and promoting the use of daffodils.

The cost of the seminar is $10, and tickets can be purchased online at sfagardens.sfasu.edu. Parking is available at the nearby Raguet Elementary School, 2428 Raguet St., with continual shuttle service to the Brundrett Conservation Education Building.

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

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Rusche College of Business is hosting an Evening with Executives at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, in the McGee Building, Room 133, on the university campus.

Citizens National Bank CEO Brad Tidwell and his executive team will provide a “State of the Industry” address in which Tidwell will discuss his views of the banking industry and economy. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions after the address.

Dr. Todd Brown, associate dean of the Rusche College of Business, has helped organize the event and is looking forward to offering students a unique experience.

“This event is a great opportunity to give students real-world insights into banking and business in general. Furthermore, it allows students to network with business leaders,” Brown said.

Evening with Executives is part of the college’s Student Success Passport Program, which encourages students to hone their professional skills while competing for scholarships. The program works on a point system, and students can earn points by completing assignments and attending events.

“We are excited to incorporate this event into the Passport Program,” said Megan Sellers, coordinator for career success and corporate engagement in the College of Business. “It will be an amazing opportunity for students to network and hear authentic stories from these professionals.”

-SFA-

Several members of the music faculty at Stephen F. Austin State University will join together for a concert of music written for wind instruments at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

The group, conducted by Fred J. Allen, director of bands, will feature Christina Guenther, flute; Chris Ayer, clarinet; and Charles Gavin, horn. Two new faculty members will also make their SFA debuts playing with the group. Kerry Hughes will perform on oboe and Lee Goodhew on bassoon.

The concert will include the “Petite Symphonie” by the French composer Charles Gounod. “It has a beautifully expressive flute part in the second movement,” Allen said. Also on the concert will be movements from Antonín Dvořák’s “Czech Suite.”

Joining these faculty members will be five upper-level music students.

“These pieces are a perfect opportunity to showcase not only faculty but also some of their top students,” Allen said.

The concert is a feature of the Cole Performing Arts Series.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.