February 10, 2003

University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston Academy for Lifelong Learning has scheduled an "old-fashioned Back to School Open House" on Thursday, February 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church, 2803 53rd Street in Galveston for area senior citizens.

Those in attendance may tour classrooms, meet with teachers and visit with Academy learners. A free school cafeteria-style buffet lunch will be served. Reservations are required and may be made at (409) 772-9327 by February 13.

The Open House kicks off the Academy's second season of college-level courses, sponsored through UTMB's Sealy Center on Aging and its Institute for Medical Humanities and designed as a community effort to give local seniors a chance to grow socially and intellectually. To register for a course, seniors may call (409) 747-4657.

The classes are open to all seniors, regardless of their previous education.

Tuition is $25 per course, and classes meet once a week for eight-10 weeks.

No tests are taken or grades given--the courses simply allow seniors to learn together and discuss issues of interest with guidance from a local expert. Seniors themselves facilitate the courses and plan Academy curriculum.

This season's offerings are as follows:
  * World-renowned oyster expert Dr. Sammy Ray, a professor at Texas A&M University at Galveston, will present "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Oysters and Other Sensational Shellfish," Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to noon, from February 25 through April 22. The class will enjoy a crab boil and sample a variety of oysters.
  * John Sullivan, director of theatre outreach and education at
UTMB's Sealy Center for Environmental Health and Medicine, will facilitate "Lifestory Theatre," to meet on Wednesdays, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., from February 26 through April 30. Through a sequence of theater games, learners will take their memories to the stage. 
  * Rabbi Jimmy Kessler of Temple B'Nai Israel is leading an exploration of eight of the world's spiritual traditions, meeting on
Mondays, 1 p.m. through 3 p.m., from March 3 through April 21. Community members who practice the various faiths will present at each class. 
  * Local ornithologist Dr. Richard Peake will guide learners in a hands-on study of migratory birds on the Gulf Coast, Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., March 6 through April 24.  Learners may participate in birding excursions.
  * Local professional musician and music teacher Izola Collins
will teach the "FUNdamentals of Jazz," Thursdays, 10 a.m. to noon, from March 20 through May 8.  Participants will hear live and recorded jazz and get a chance to make music themselves.   
  * Michelle Sierpina, director for the Academy who has facilitated writing workshops for many years, will teach elders to write their life stories, Tuesdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., from March 25 through May 13.  Learners at all levels of writing skill will get a chance to share their memories.

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