Everything Nac

The East Texas Research Center at Stephen F. Austin State University is sponsoring the third annual “I Found it in the Archives” essay and video contest showcasing archived materials that have positively impacted people’s lives.

“We’re seeking entrants who have found something special in our collections – records, documents, photos, recordings, a meaningful item or treasure,” said ETRC Director Linda Reynolds. “If it has meaning to you, it has meaning to us and is a wonderful basis for your entry.”

Visitors to the ETRC are encouraged to write about the information they have found and what it means to them. Entrants should submit either a 400-word essay or a video describing their quest for information and explaining how finding it has made a difference. Those submitting an essay also should include a color photo of themselves. Videos should be no more than two minutes long. Contest submissions will be accepted through Feb. 3.

”It does not have to be some extremely significant discovery; you may have unearthed a clue to an unsolved mystery, discovered a long-lost relative, found the missing element in a critical paper trail or simply had an outstanding experience working with the archives staff while learning more about something important to you,” Reynolds said.

The entries of the top three finalists will be posted online for a public vote. All finalists will receive a gift bag, and the winner will receive a prize package of gifts from local businesses and will be entered into the national competition sponsored by the Society of American Archivists. National winners will be hosted at the August Society of American Archivists Annual Awards Ceremony in New Orleans.

The entry form and a complete list of contest rules can be found online at http://library.sfasu.edu/etrc/found-it

For additional information, email asketrc@sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-4100.

Dr. Gerald Harp, assistant professor of horticulture at Texas A&M University-Commerce, will present “Landscape Soils – Growing from the Ground Up” at the upcoming Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series hosted by SFA Gardens.

The lecture will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, in Room 110 of the Agriculture Building located on Wilson Drive on the SFA campus.

Harp was born and raised in Everman, just south of Fort Worth. He earned a Bachelor of Science in horticulture and landscape management and a Master of Science in general agriculture from Tarleton State University, as well as a Ph.D. in horticulture from Texas A&M University, where he worked on plant responses to urban microclimates.

Harp has been in the landscape industry since 1986, working in greenhouses, wholesale and retail nurseries, and landscape installation and maintenance. He spent several years as a landscape manager for various companies in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, where he worked on multi-million dollar commercial and residential landscape projects, primarily in the University Park area of Dallas. Prior to entering academia, Harp managed approximately $3.5 million worth of commercial and residential landscape maintenance contracts across the Metroplex.

In 2000, he accepted a position at Southeast Missouri State University, teaching plant and soil science courses. In 2003, he was asked to come to Texas A&M University-Commerce to help rebuild the horticulture program. In addition to teaching, he currently serves the Department of Agricultural Sciences as graduate coordinator, undergraduate faculty mentor and undergraduate adviser, and he teaches numerous horticulture, soils, and freshman and senior seminar courses. He also serves the university as president of the faculty senate and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools liaison and is a member of numerous other committees.

Harp’s research focuses primarily on sustainable urban landscapes, including the use of ornamental plants on building roofs. These “green roofs” absorb incoming sunlight, reducing the heat being transferred into a building, decreasing cooling costs and making the building more energy efficient. He also is working with AgriLife Extension to identify landscape plants that are capable of thriving in minimum-input landscapes, evaluating landscape plants that thrive with little irrigation and no supplemental application of fertilizers and pesticides.

The Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series is normally held the third Thursday of each month at the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture’s SFA Mast Arboretum. A rare plant raffle will be held after the program. The lecture is free and open to the public, but donations to the Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series endowed fund always are appreciated. For more information, call (936) 468-1832 or email grantdamon@sfasu.edu.

Violinists, violists and cellists from around the world will compete for $15,000 in prize money during the George and Peggy Schmidbauer Young Artist Strings Competition presented by the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music Saturday, Jan. 19, and Sunday, Jan. 20, on the SFA campus.

“It’s an exciting time for Nacogdoches to be able to bring in all these musicians,” said Gene H. Moon, director of orchestral studies at SFA and of the competition. “We already have a great music program at SFA, but a competition like this brings notoriety to the entire community.”

Six years ago, George and Peggy Schmidbauer, California residents who founded Cal-Tex Lumber in Nacogdoches more than 25 years ago, wanted to give a donation to SFA to foster and promote classical music. As a result, Moon was asked to formulate a competition. The Schmidbauer Competition alternates each year between piano and strings.

Applications are accepted worldwide for the competition. This year, string musicians from South Korea, Russia, Finland and many locations throughout the U.S. have applied. The applications will be narrowed to 10 competitors for each of the junior and senior divisions.

“The Schmidbauer Competition has become one of the most distinguished highlights of the year for the School of Music,” said Scott Harris, interim director of the SFA School of Music. “Hosting a competition of this stature puts the SFA School of Music, and Nacogdoches, on the international stage. We are truly thankful that the generous contributions of George and Peggy Schmidbauer allow SFA to bring these amazing young artists to campus.”

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19, 10 senior division string players (ages 19 to 27) will each present a 30-minute recital during the semi-final rounds in W.M. Turner Auditorium. At the same time, 10 junior division semi-finalists (ages 15 to 18) will similarly compete in Cole Concert Hall.

Admission to any part of the semi-final rounds on Saturday is free.

“You can come and go as you wish; there is no ticket cost, and you can hear some amazing playing,” Moon said.

Three finalists for both divisions will be announced at 4:30 p.m. in Cole Concert Hall, where the junior division final round concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. that evening. The first place winner will receive $1,500; second place, $1,000; and third place, $750.

The final round for the senior division will be begin at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20, in Cole Concert Hall. The first place winner will receive $5,000 and a $2,500 concert engagement with the SFA Orchestra of the Pines. Second place will receive $3,000, and third place, $2,000.

Admission to each of the final round concerts is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for students.

Tickets to any of the events can be purchased ahead of time by calling (936) 468-6407 or visiting the SFA Fine Arts Box Office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Cole Concert Hall is located in the Wright Music Building, 2210 Alumni Drive. W.M. Turner Auditorium and the Fine Arts Box Office are located at 2222 Alumni Drive. For more information, please call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.