ICC to launch new program focused on retirees
Jan. 24—OXFORD — Itawamba Community College will launch a Senior College program focused on retirees.
While its kickoff was scheduled to take place on Jan. 16, the recent winter storm pushed the kickoff date back to Feb. 6. Dale Rushing will host the College's first class on the Belden campus and give a talk on the influence Mississippi musicians have had on the music industry; there will be bingo and door prizes, ICC marketing specialist Maggie Caldwell said.
The Senior Collge will have one class a month, each from 9 to 11 a.m. That first class is free; the rest of the spring session will cost $30 per person. Couples can attend for a discount of $50 total.
Other spring classes include the following:
Feb. 20 — Jack Reed Jr. will share excerpts from his book, "A Time To Listen"
March 20 — Clark Richey will lead an excursion to the Claude Gentry Theatre in Baldwyn and host lunch at Tom's Soda Shop
April 17 — Sarah Cline Stevens will host a legal matters class covering wills, trusts, and long-term care
May 15 — The series will end with a "spring fling," according to an ICC press release
ICC will provide transportation for the trip to Baldwyn in March, and that class will likely go past 11 a.m.
There are currently 20 people signed up for the first class, said Rena Chism, ICC's continuing-education specialist and the Senior College's creator.
"I was praying for 15 (attendees), but my goal is I would like to see at least 25 people there," Chism said. "That would just make my day."
Chism assumed her position at ICC nearly a year ago, and she was inspired to create the ICC Senior College by the senior college program at the University of North Alabama, as well as by an elderly aunt who was living with her at the time. Chism saw a need among the retirees in her community.
"I want them to come in and make new friends, stay socially active, and keep their minds active," Chism said. She said she wants to create a program "where they'll come in and feel loved on and feel a sense of community."
As she put it, people age a lot faster when they have nothing to do.
The ICC Continuing Education department suffered somewhat during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Caldwell sees the new Senior College as a way to revitalize Continuing Ed.
Chism wants to see the Senior College become something for which ICC is known.
"I'm really excited about it," Chism said. "I have a dream of it really growing."
In the future, Chism hopes to add more classes per session (semester).
"We're just really excited about (the Senior College)," Caldwell said. "It's something new and different, and we hope people will come out and participate and not only get to know ICC but get to know other people in the community and learn some things."
Addie covers education and general news for the Daily Journal. Contact her at addie.davis@journalinc.com.
