Senior College
"We just got done with the second course in the All American Forms of Music with Mark Lair, and I have a group of 10 ladies that just love him! I just announced that our last session will be next week and one participant said, 'I will be here if I have to come in an ambulance!' That about sums up how much they are enjoying this course. Thanks so much for the opportunity to offer this to our residents and community."
– Dana Reese, Administrator
Good Samaritan Society – Manson (Manson, Iowa)
Senior College is a collaboration between Southwest Minnesota State University, Minnesota West Community and Technical College and the Good Samaritan Society to provide seniors an opportunity to expand their knowledge through courses that interest them. Courses are taught by experienced instructors who share an interest with their students in the topics. It doesn’t matter whether your formal education ended before you graduated from high school or whether you have a doctoral degree — the purpose of these courses is to learn and have fun!
The Senior College courses are provided via DVD to Good Samaritan communities in several states. You will be able to attend class right where you live, along with your friends.
A series of courses is offered twice each year. A variety of topics has been offered in the past, from areas such as art, history, politics, literature, religion, health and more! Seniors enjoy the opportunity to learn new things as well as to engage in thoughtful discussions with their friends. Ask your Good Samaritan Housing Director about Senior College in your community!
Click here to visit the Senior College Web site, www.senior-college.com.
Click here to search for Good Samaritan Society locations near you that offer Senior College.
Stories that make you laugh
This course will help you discover the art of storytelling. Topics will include stories of: 1)100,000 Miles, 2) The Miracle Cow. 3) The Ghost Owl, 4) Cherry Humps, 5) The Squirrel and 6) The Load of Hay. Come enjoy!
Instructor: Al Batt, storyteller and humorist
Painting Bold and Beautiful Plants and Amazing Florals
If you are just starting out or an experienced learner, this course will show you how the basics of flowers, leaves and stems are an important first step in painting plants. This course is filled with new lessons for you that I have learned over a lifetime of painting. Beautiful plants make perfect subjects all year long no matter your location or weather. Many plant leaves are the petals of some flowers with vibrant bold color such as Poinsettias. You will apply your new skills to a Croton still life. You will learn how to paint amazing Lady Slippers and more. The simple three dimensional roundness lesson that you learn can be applied to many other florals. You can enjoy painting year round once you learn how to see as an artist.
Instructor: Charlene Buescher, Teaching Artist
1930–1955: Depression to Cold War
I come from a family of veterans and I served in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War. This course will interweave war history with first-hand accounts from family members and friends. We will discuss the great depression, the Spanish Civil War to Japanese attack of China, WW II, Russia, Iran and Korea to Vietnam.
Instructor: Dr. Dan Anderson, adjunct professor and veteran
Those Dirty Rats: Organized Crime in America
This course will explore the phenomenon of organized crime in America during the 1920’s. We will look at how it evolved, who were the main culprits and their crimes, as well as the sensational news that held the country in awe of these glamorous and deadly criminals.
Terry Zerfas, Actor and President of IMAGINE
World Religious Traditions
During this session, we will look at some of the great religious traditions of the world. Take this opportunity to explore the spirituality of Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and varieties of Christianity. We will focus on human experience with the Divine from ancient China, India and the Middle East to Europe and America.
Dr. Don Swanjord, MNWest Technical College Professor
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