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Senior Academy Open to All Ages

Posted on: Wednesday, 31 May 2006, 12:00 CDT

By Michael Barber, The Bradenton Herald, Fla.

May 24--Students don't have to be seniors to take classes at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee's Senior Academy. All they need is a desire to learn.

"You used to have to be 50 to take part in the senior academy, but now there is no minimal age," said Jerry Meketon, the academy's executive director. "The reason for that is we realized more and more people have freedom during the day to take a course or two and get involved."

In existence since 1999, the senior academy is getting ready to start its summer session with a slate of 13 courses, ranging from the "Magic of Digital Editing" to "Birdwatching" to "Shakespeare."

The summer session runs from June 5 to July 19.

For $85, students gain access to all 13 courses offered this summer, even though some of the dates and times of the courses overlap.

"The $85 also makes them a member of the senior academy for the academic year," Meketon said. "That gives them access to campus parking, the library, and discounts at the cafeteria and bookstore through the academic year."

Although the summer fee covers access to parking and other student services throughout the year, there are additional course fees for academy classes offered during the fall, winter and spring sessions.

Bill Andrews, 70, is a retired English teacher who now lives in University Park. He first started taking classes at the USF Senior Academy in 2001 because he wanted to do some writing. Now he teaches writing courses and is the publisher of the academy's newsletter.

"It's a great way to stay active," Andrews said. "We have a clientele that is pretty bright so being around all of those bright minds keeps your gray matter going."

One of those bright minds is Alan Grindal, 64, of Sarasota. Still working part time as a neurologist, Grindal teaches a course on the human brain at the academy. The course not only deals with anatomy and functions of the brain, but also delves into disease and morality.

"I really enjoy the teaching," Grindal said. "It's a challenge to take complex information and put it in a form so that students who don't have a medical background can understand it."

Meketon said more than 500 students have taken classes through the academy and there is a real camaraderie among the group.

"Sometimes the academy functions as a support group," Meketon said. "It's a place where you can go to talk and meet other people who are interested in lifelong learning."

Michael Barber, Herald reporter, can be reached at mbarber@HeraldToday.com [mailto:mbarber@HeraldToday.com] and 748-0411, ext. 2640.

More information

To register at USF Sarasota-Manatee's Senior Academy, call 359-4296 or go to www.sarasota.usf.edu/ [http://www.sarasota.usf.edu/] senioracademy.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Bradenton Herald, Fla.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

Source: The Bradenton Herald (Bradenton, Fla.)

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