Everything Nac

The Nacogdoches County Chamber Fourth Friday Luncheon presented by Spherion Staffing, will focus on Stephen F. Austin. The event is noon to 1 p.m., Friday, April 25 at Quality Inn, 3400 South St. SFA’s head football coach Clint Conque will speak. Event Gold sponsor is Halls, Johnson, McLemore and Redfield.

“Lumberjack athletics are on a roll, and we know business members are keenly interested in the 2014 edition of SFA football,” said Chamber President/CEO Bruce Partain.

Conque became SFA’s 19th head football coach on Dec. 14, 2013, bringing with him nearly 30 years of coaching experience that include time coaching at Central Arkansas and Louisiana Tech. Known for his high-tempo offenses, Conque’s teams have consistently ranked among the national leaders in both scoring and passing offense. He is married to the former Angele’ Jackson and the couple have three sons Chasse (and his wife Lisa), Benton and Zach. He also became a grandfather as twins Julianna and Sydney.

The information presented is vital for all local businesses, and the luncheon serves as the Chamber’s monthly membership meeting. Attendee RSVPs are required by noon, April 23. Lunch is $16 at the door. Find the secure “pay online” option at nacogdoches.org or call 560-5533.

All attending may enter the $50 drawing, sponsored by Commercial Bank of Texas, and all Chamber members are entered in a $50 drawing, sponsored by Axley & Rode, but you must be present to win.

Communities to wear college T-shirts to show support for local students

The Deep East Texas P-16 Council is encouraging communities, businesses and schools in Nacogdoches and Angelina counties to join the state of Texas in celebrating GenTX Day by wearing a college T-shirt on Friday, May 2. GenTX Day is part of Generation TX, a statewide initiative supported by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board focused on building a college-going, career-ready culture across the state.

The 15 independent school districts in Nacogdoches and Angelina counties have been encouraged to promote the wearing of college T-shirts on GenTX Day. Some area schools are hosting GenTX Day events to help students envision their futures such as AVID classroom discussions at Hudson High School, College T-shirt day at Central Heights where the students will get an extended lunch for wearing their favorite college T-shirt, and a Career Center unveiling in the library of Zavalla High School. Other schools such as Lufkin Middle School and Burley Primary are hosting Career Day/ Week around GenTX Day.

Many East Texas nonprofit organizations and businesses are actively supporting GenTX Day across the region and encouraging broad participation by asking their employees wear college T-shirts for the day.

For more information about participating, call Megan Kelley at (936) 468-1292.

Students in the Music Preparatory Division of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music will present their spring recitals beginning April 29 and continuing through May 18.

“The students have worked hard this semester in order to bring their gift of music to parents, families and friends,” said Pat Barnett, division director.

Harp students of Emily Mitchell will perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, in the Music Recital Hall. On Sunday, May 4, is the SFA student teachers’ students recital and a performance of the piano students of Mario Ajero at 2 p.m. in the Music Recital Hall.

The Piney Woods Youth Orchestra will perform at 7 p.m. Monday, May 5, in Cole Concert Hall with Dr. Evgeni Raychev, director, and Pavel Baez, assistant director.

Raychev’s cello students and the violin/viola students of Dr. Jenifer Dalmas will present their spring recital at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 8, in the Music Recital Hall.

The Suzuki violin students of Brenda Josephsen will perform at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 8, and at 7 p.m. Friday, May 9, in the Music Recital Hall.

A number of piano recitals are planned for Saturday, May 10, including the students of Theresa Moon and Bruno Ribeiro at 2 p.m. in the Music Recital Hall, the students of Linda Parr at 2 p.m. in Cole Concert Hall, and the students of Dr. Ping-Ting Lan at 4 p.m. in Cole Concert Hall. Piano students of Mary Cooper will present their recital at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 11, in Cole Concert Hall.

The Piney Woods Chorale, directed by Nicole Stewart, will perform at 6 p.m. Monday, May 12, in the Music Recital Hall.

The final recital of the semester will feature a performance of the violin/viola students of Melissa Nabb at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 18, in the Music Recital Hall.

Registrations for summer classes are being accepted. Forms are available online at www.music.sfasu.edu/prep. For more information about the SFA Music Preparatory Division, contact Barnett at (936) 468-1291.

Join the SFA Beef Center and Stephen F. Austin State University’s Nacogdoches Naturally Family Outdoor Adventure Program for “Farm and Forestry Day” from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 26, at the Walter C. Todd Agricultural Research Center located 5.5 miles north of Nacogdoches on State Highway 259.

The free barnyard event is a chance for children and their families to be exposed to the farm animals at the SFA Beef Center and gain awareness of the many educational experiences available from SFA’s Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture.

“This is a way for the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture to give back to the community that supports it and provide community members and their families a memorable experience,” said Kerry Lemon, project director of Nacogdoches Naturally.

On display will be a variety of farm animals, including cows, goats, sheep, horses, pigs and donkeys, and many of the animals will have young offspring. In addition to educational booths, activities will include hayrides, face painting, outdoor cooking, crafts, games and more. The event will be family friendly with fun activities for all ages.

Designed to acquaint the community with the natural resource fields available at SFA, “Farm and Forestry Day” highlights the synergistic nature of agriculture and forest/wildlife management. Faculty members from the forestry and agriculture college have begun research in agroforestry and silvopasture at the SFA Beef Farm. Agroforestry and silvopasture involve growing lumber-producing trees with food crops or forage under the canopy.

The SFA Beef Center, operated by the SFA Department of Agriculture, provides hands-on instruction to undergraduate students and a place for graduate student research, as well as services to local producers, FFA members and 4-H members. To find the SFA Beef Center, travel north on State Highway 259 from Nacogdoches, and turn right on County Road 123 at the sign for the Walter C. Todd Agriculture Research Center. Continue past the Equestrian Center to the Beef Center.

For more information, contact Kerry Lemon at (936) 468-5586 or lemonkb@sfasu.edu or Dr. Erin Brown at (936) 468-3705 or browneg@sfasu.edu.

Dr. Harry Downing, professor and chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Stephen F. Austin State University, will present “Physics is Phundamental” at the upcoming Regents Lecture.

Downing, the 2013-14 Regents Professor, will deliver the address at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, in the Miller Science Building Lecture Hall, Room 334, on the SFA campus. Refreshments will be served, and there is no admission charge.

Downing said his presentation will focus on examples and demonstrations in the realm of physics “that have proven throughout the years to entertain and stimulate the mind.” The lecture will involve the audience, he said.

Downing joined the SFA faculty in 1975 and has served as physics and astronomy chair since 1988. He has taught courses in general physics, introduction to engineering/physics, technical physics, engineering statics, engineering dynamics and mathematical applications in physics.

His many honors include Teaching Excellence Awards from both the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the College of Sciences and Mathematics; Best Pedagogical Paper from the Texas Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers; the Robert N. Little Award for Outstanding Contributions to Physics Higher Education in Texas from TSAAPT; and the Outstanding Society of Physics Students Chapter Adviser Award.

Downing earned his bachelor’s degree in physics from Arkansas State University in 1968 and his master’s and doctoral degrees in physics from Florida State University in 1970 and 1973.

This is the ninth in a series of lectures delivered by SFA Regents Professors. The title of Regents Professor is the highest honor SFA bestows upon members of the faculty and is held for one full academic year.

The series is sponsored by the SFA Office of the Provost and the University Lecture Series Committee. For more information, call (936) 468-2605.