Everything Nac

State Rep. Travis Clardy will offer the commencement address during Stephen F. Austin State University’s fall graduation ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 14, in William R. Johnson Coliseum.

Clardy, a Nacogdoches small business owner and attorney, recently finished his first term representing House District 11, which includes Cherokee, Nacogdoches and Rusk counties. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from Abilene Christian University and graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law, where he assisted with the Pepperdine Law Review from 1986 to 1988.

Clardy is a Paul Harris Fellow at the Nacogdoches Rotary Club and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and he has served on the executive board of the East Texas Boy Scouts. He also is an active member of the North Street Church of Christ and serves on the Alumni Advisory Board for Abilene Christian University.

Clardy currently serves on the state Higher Education, Local and Consent Calendars, Special Purpose Districts, and Redistricting committees. As a freshman legislator during the 83rd session of the Texas Legislature, he authored and guided the passage of 10 bills.

Recently, Clardy received the Legislator of the Year Award from the Texas Civil Justice League, the nation’s oldest and largest state legal reform organization. He also earned the Courageous Conservative Award presented by the Texas Conservative Coalition and, along with his wife Judy, earned the 2012 Winners Circle Award given by the Dean’s Circle for SFA’s College of Fine Arts.

Clardy said he is honored to deliver the commencement address for the university. “SFA means a lot to me, as well as East Texas,” he said. “I look forward to sharing my wisdom with the next generation of leaders.”

Clardy also said he encourages the graduating students to identify their talents and skills, as well as be passionate about their chosen career paths.

Commencement exercises will be split into two ceremonies for fall graduation, and Clardy will provide the commencement address at both ceremonies.

Graduates from SFA’s James I. Perkins College of Education and College of Fine Arts will participate in a 9:30 a.m. ceremony. Candidates from the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, the Nelson Rusche College of Business, the College of Liberal and Applied Arts, and the College of Sciences and Mathematics will participate in a 2 p.m. ceremony. Master’s and doctoral candidates will graduate with their respective colleges.

An estimated 992 degrees will be awarded, with two being presented posthumously. During fall graduation, 801 bachelor’s degrees, 187 master’s degrees and two doctoral degrees will be bestowed. More than 180 students will graduate with honors, including 73 cum laude, 46 magna cum laude and 64 summa cum laude.

Students enrolled in private and group lessons offered by the Music Preparatory Division of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music will present end-of-the-semester recitals this month.

SFA student teachers’ students and Dr. Mario Ajero’s piano students will perform at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, followed by piano students of Theresa Moon and Bruno Ribeiro performing at 4 p.m. Sunday. Both recitals will be in the Music Recital Hall in the Wright Music Building on the SFA campus.

A performance of the Piney Woods Youth Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Evgeni Raychev with student assistant Pavel Baez, will take place at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9, in Cole Concert Hall.

On Tuesday, Dec. 10, string students of Raychev and Dr. Jennifer Dalmas will perform at 7:30 p.m. in then Music Recital Hall.

Violin students of Brenda Josephsen will perform at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, in Cole Concert Hall, followed by recitals by piano students of Dr. Ping-Ting Lan at 4 p.m. in Cole Concert Hall and by piano students of Linda Parr at 4 p.m. in the Music Recital Hall.

Piano students of Mary Cooper will perform at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, in Cole Concert Hall, and violin students of Melissa Nabb will perform at 2 p.m. Dec. 15 in the Music Recital Hall.

Music Prep fall recitals will conclude on Monday, Dec. 16, with a 7 p.m. performance of the Piney Woods Chorale, directed by Nicole Stewart with assistant Shelby Tillery, in the Music Recital Hall.

All recitals are open to the public.

Registrations for spring classes offered through the Music Preparatory Division are being accepted. For a complete listing of classes and types of instruction available, visit www.music.sfasu.edu/prep or contact Director Pat Barnett at (936) 468-1291.