Osher Lifelong Learning Institute to Honor Five ‘Outstanding Life Learners’

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Arkansas will honor five longtime members – Grace Aaron, Betty Battenfield, Wanda Belzung, Bill Brandon and Richard Forsythe – at its annual fall open house Sept. 5.

Chancellor G. David Gearhart will recognize the five as the first recipients of an award for “outstanding life learners.” They are among nearly 600 members of the organization in Northwest Arkansas who take classes. Members also provide leadership in developing curriculum. The honorees:

• Grace Aaron of Fayetteville is a retired elementary school teacher.
• Betty Battenfield of Fayetteville is retired from the faculty of the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing at the University of Arkansas.
• Wanda Belzung of Fayetteville is retired from the faculty of the Walter J. Lemke department of journalism at the university.
• Bill Brandon of Springdale is retired from Southwestern Electric Power Co., where he was a vice president, a member of the board of directors and Louisiana division regional manager.
• Richard Forsythe of Fayetteville is retired from the faculty of the poultry science department at the University of Arkansas.

Gearhart and Tom Smith, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions, recently became members of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Membership is open to people 50 and older.

“The chancellor and I both wanted to show our support personally and as representatives of the University of Arkansas,” Smith said. “The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute plays an important role in providing learning opportunities for people from all walks of life on a wide range of topics.”

The institute invites members of the Northwest Arkansas community to attend the open house from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, at its offices at the Global Campus, 2 E. Center St., Fayetteville. Also planned is entertainment from the “Singing Men of Arkansas,” a silent auction, door prizes, refreshments and information about fall 2013 courses and teaching and volunteer opportunities.

Hugh Earnest, chair of the curriculum committee, said developing a diverse course catalog is important to the committee. The volunteer committee has researched and recommended 60 classes.

“We want to be as diverse as possible in our class offerings, across 13 widely divergent topic areas from ‘The U.S. in Afghanistan’ to ‘The Secret Language of NuShu,’” Earnest said. “Our hope is to attract new members to join us in this exciting journey this fall, then ask them to give us their feedback and programming suggestions.” 

Susan Tonymon, who was named director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in July, said new online services were introduced this fall that allow memberships to be purchased online. Members can then sign up and pay for classes online.

“OLLI at the YOUofA is invested in supporting lifelong learners and also promoting Northwest Arkansas as an aging-friendly place to live,” Tonymon said. “The demand for classes should grow significantly in future years as more baby boomers retire in our area and seek quality of life activities. OLLI is a member-driven, nonprofit organization. Our primary goal is to meet the needs of our members by providing resources for stimulating, educational programming that is affordable and accessible.”

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is based in the University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions in Fayetteville. The Bernard Osher Foundation established more than 115 centers at universities across the United States for the purpose of meeting needs of adult learners. The hybrid organizations are comprised of staff and empowered members who generate peer-led organization and content. They provide valuable opportunities to adults 50 and over to share intellectual interests, make new friends, explore cultural topics and other thought-provoking subjects, and idea exchanges with peers.