Life briefs: Adult Diploma Program, MOESC grant, Tiny Tim Shoppe volunteers, art show

Age requirement lowered for Adult Diploma Program

The Adult Diploma Program provides a pathway for adults who are serious about earning a high school diploma and industry credentials. This program is free to those who are Ohio residents and qualify. There is no minimum number of high school credits required. Previously, this program was offered to students 20 years of age and older, but that age requirement has recently been lowered to 18.

Students in Ashland, Crawford and Richland counties have many options available to them through local career technical schools. Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center, Pioneer Career and Technology Center, and Madison Adult Career Center all offer various Adult Diploma Programs to students who are eligible. The program duration depends on the length of the credential program.

What makes this program different from a traditional high school setting is the delivery of instructions to adults. Instead of measuring academic achievement through clock hours or seat time for credits earned, the focus is on a competency-based approach that provides a self-paced option. Once competencies have been learned, adults then demonstrate the mastery of a skill. Each eligible adult works with the provider to create a customized student success plan.

Interested students will need to first take and pass ACT WorkKeys Career Assessments. Free tutoring and preparation for these assessments are available from Mansfield Adult Education by calling 419-525-6380.

MOESC Board of Governors announces grant

The Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center has received a $1,500 grant from the Gorman Fund, a donor-advised fund of the Richland County Foundation, for its Artapolooza Fine Arts Festival. The grant allowed Mid-Ohio to purchase additional art display boards for the Artapolooza Fine Arts Festival, which continues to grow each year. Last year 18 local school districts participated.

The Artapolooza Fine Arts Festival showcases all types of visual art projects — paintings, drawings, sculptures, as well as mixed media and digital arts — from area students. Festival dates in 2024 will be April 12-17 at the Mid-Ohio ESC in Mansfield. There is no cost for client/member districts, but non-client participants have a fee of $200.

For more information on Artapolooza, contact Jenny Pennell at pennell.jennifer@moesc.net.

Tiny Tim Shoppe needs volunteers

The Downtown Mansfield Inc. Tiny Tim Shoppe returns next month, and volunteers are needed to help children shop. The shop will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday from Nov. 18 through Dec. 16. Shifts are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 to 4 p.m.

Volunteers will help children pick out gifts for family and friends as well as gift wrapping and tagging. You can sign up online; call 419-522-0099 or email Rhyan@downtownmansfield.com if you have questions.

Ashland U’s Coburn Gallery featuring alumna's artwork through Oct. 29

ASHLAND — The Coburn Gallery and Ashland University Department of Art + Design is hosting “An Evolution from Imagery to Entanglement,” a painting exhibition featuring alumna Jamie Lindholm, now through Oct. 29.

“An Evolution from Imagery to Entanglement” pulls from Lindholm’s studio practice in Colorado where she works primarily with oils and charcoal. Her art has been exhibited throughout the United States and in Sweden.

Lindholm graduated from AU with a bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing in 1983. She earned a master of fine arts degree with honors from Regis University.

Lindholm is a patron member of the Portrait Society of America, where she was once an ambassador and national coordinator for its ambassador program. She is also a signature member of American Women Artists.

The Coburn Gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and noon to 4 p.m. on weekends. Gallery admission is free and open to the public. The gallery will offer extended hours during AU’s Homecoming weekend, open until 7 p.m. on Oct. 20 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 21.

For more information about the exhibition, call 419-289-5652 or visit the gallery’s Facebook page.

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Adult Diploma Program, Mid-Ohio ESC grant, Tiny Tim Shoppe, AU gallery