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May 15, 2009
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute-UW Opens in Everett
Mayor Ray Stephanson to speak at May 28 program launch for adults over 50
Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson welcomes on May 28 the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute of the University of Washington (OLLI-UW). The membership-based Institute will offer short courses and special events for people over the age of 50 starting this summer.
The public is invited to attend the welcome ceremony at 3 p.m., Thursday, May 28, at the Everett Senior Center, 3025 Lombard Avenue in downtown Everett. The event includes remarks by Mayor Stephanson and an information meeting for prospective members.
The new Everett location is the third OLLI-UW site to open in the Puget Sound region. All are administered by University of Washington Educational Outreach. Sites in Seattle (on the UW campus) and on the east side (at Trilogy at Redmond Ridge) have attracted more than 600 members.
"This is an exciting partnership that gives our community members access to high-quality instruction," Mayor Stephanson said. "This membership program offers our residents an opportunity to learn from UW instructors and experts right here in Everett."
"We're pleased to partner with the City of Everett to open the third location of OLLI-UW," said Susan Turner, Director of the Institute and Senior Director of Academic Programs for UW Educational Outreach. "It's one more way to share the intellectual resources of the University with the Puget Sound community and beyond. Our senior population is growing, and the Institute fulfills a need by allowing people age 50 and over to come together with their peers to explore intellectual and cultural topics of interest."
The Institute offers short courses and special events on topics ranging from arts and history to health science research and important local and global issues of the day. Members enjoy a high-quality educational experience: courses are taught by seasoned UW instructors, retired UW faculty, and community experts.
Each quarter, 35-40 courses and field trips are offered at the combined OLLI-UW locations. Members may enroll in as many courses as they like, subject only to class size limits. There's no pressure of tests or grades and no papers to write. It's a tremendous opportunity at an affordable annual membership price of $110.
Institute member Katrina Reinhardt, who has attended courses at the Seattle location, said, "This is such a worthy cause, so wonderful a way for people to try out different things to see what is 'right' or 'stimulating' for them… I can't say enough good things about education for adults. It's TERRIBLY important for us baby boomers!"
Helen Oppenheim, an Institute member who has attended courses at the Trilogy at Redmond Ridge location, said, "It's an opportunity to learn for the sheer joy of learning-to exchange ideas and insights-to stretch our minds-and to add a very special dimension to our lives. My friends and I in the program are thrilled to have the high quality educational resource that the University of Washington offers through its Osher Lifelong Learning Institute."
About the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
The University of Washington Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (www.outreach.washington.edu/olli) is funded by a grant from the Bernard Osher Foundation and administered by University of Washington Educational Outreach. It is one of more than 100 Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes affiliated with colleges and universities across the country.
About University of Washington Educational Outreach (UWEO) UWEO is the continuing and professional education division of the University of Washington, the nationally recognized public research institution based in Seattle. Helping the schools, colleges, and departments to administer evening master's degrees, certificate programs, distance and online learning, international outreach and English language programs, and more, UWEO is one of the largest and most highly regarded continuing and professional education programs in the U.S. (more information at http://www.outreach.washington.edu/uweo.