October 5, 2021 - We were treated to an educational program by Rich Santel who represented the OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) at Penn State York. OLLI is a membership-based organization with chapters in the State College and York areas, open to individuals aged 50 and better who want to further their knowledge, socialize, explore, and engage in a friendly and welcoming environment. In early 2007, a chance meeting between three women from York — Charmaine Kissinger, Olive Paddon, and Gussie Petron — sowed the seeds that bloomed into what is now OLLI at Penn State York. The women, who called themselves a cog (Charmaine, Olive, Gussie) in the wheel of learning, started discussing retirement and realized they needed intellectual and cultural stimulation, as well as new learning opportunities. As a result of their exploration, a portion of Penn State’s Osher Foundation grants were used to develop OLLI at Penn State York, which launched their first series of courses in the spring of 2008. Many instructors have shared that teaching for OLLI has been some of the most rewarding teaching experiences of their lives. OLLI learners are intelligent, vibrant, and engaged. They bring to the classroom a wisdom, maturity, and depth of experience that is difficult to find in younger learners. A listing of the Fall 2021 courses shows Rich’s course in “Hollywood Classics” as the first offering. The course is currently underway, having had the initial meeting on September 7. If you examine the full course catalog you will find a stunning variety of subjects to choose from. Non-member tuition is usually $20 while the discounted tuition for members is generally $8 for single session courses and a bit more when the course spans several sessions. |
