Community Education Brings More Fun, Affordable Learning

Published: December 28, 2018 | Author: Haven Scott | Read Time: 2 minutes

Southern Utah University’s Community Education program has taken Cedar City residents on some fun adventures in their first year and taught some fun, creative skills along the way.

From alcohol ink painting, social dancing and cake decorating, to more serious classes like Southern Utah Geology hiking and the Master Astronomer’s Program, more than 500 residents participated in 71 social-based, fun, affordable classes.

“It has been an amazing start to SUU’s community education effort,” said SUU Community and Academic Enrichment Executive Director Melynda Thorpe. “The response in our first year of operation is more than we expected, and we are all excited to continue growing our operation in 2019.”

Photography instructor April McPherson has taught classes as an adjunct professor at SUU, but working with community members has been a rewarding experience like no other, she said.

“The community members that I have been teaching are very receptive to my course. Within the first two days we had a lot of ‘ah-ha!’ moments, which as an educator is gold,” McPherson said. “The overall environment is more informal and inviting, which I think keeps the participants eager and hopefully sparks conversations outside of class with other community members.”

Not all SUU Community Education participants are from Cedar City. Lori Hanna, owner of Perks Espresso & Smoothies in St. George, said she and her husband enjoyed getting away from their busy life as business owners and escaping to Cedar City where they took an Art of Wine Tasting class offered through SUU.

“The instructor is so knowledgeable and made the class fun,” Hanna said. “The whole class was an amazing experience, the atmosphere, making new friends with classmates — it was the perfect little distraction for us and we looked forward to making the drive to Cedar City each week.”

Community Education is continuing their learning opportunities with more affordable, short-term classes in spring 2019, including; Paws and Pathways, Travel Spanish, several art classes, financial strategies, gardening, landscaping and several other classes designed to be active, social and fun. Grab a friend, family member or neighbor, or meet new friends along the way, and sign up for one of more than 40 new classes this spring.

For additional information on SUU Community Education classes, email bewise@suu.edu .edu or visit suu.edu/wise. For help registering for a class or to have a spring class schedule mailed to you, call (435) 865-8259 or stop by the SUU Office of Community and Academic Enrichment at 136 W. University Blvd., Suite 003, Cedar City.

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Tags: Community and Professional Development

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435-586-5400
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