When Bradley began its lifelong learning program in 1994, a new door to education opened.
It wasn’t long until the Osher Foundation awarded Bradley a grant that allowed Bradley’s own Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) to become what it is today: a program of 1,193 adults aged 50 and over with enthusiasm and eagerness to learn.
OLLI provides its members with more than just an educational opportunity.
“Socialization for retired people is [also] essential to mental health and happiness,” Jane Hense said, OLLI’s new Vice President.
Members come to attend classes specifically designed by OLLI that are offered in “seasons” of 4 classes one day of the week for four weeks.
“You can learn about topics that you’ve always kind of wondered about, but didn’t really have time to explore or didn’t have the energy to get into … but wanted to know more about it,” Hense said. “That’s what OLLI does for you. It’s so wonderful.”
The Osher Foundation initially funded Bradley University’s OLLI program with two separate $1,000,000 endowment gifts. In early 2012, OLLI was encouraged to begin additional fundraising so that the program was not relying solely on grants from the foundation.
Since then, Bradley’s own OLLI members have raised $443,628.
$100,000 have most recently been used to fund a complete renovation of the audio-visual system in Bradley’s student center ballroom. A soundproof wall is also in the works.
“Our members really wanted to raise the funds for [this] project. We have classes in there several times a year and the sounds bleed from the curtains as well as the technology [which can be] quite unreliable and hamper some of our learning opportunities,” Michelle Riggio, associate director of Continuing Education at Bradley and OLLI’s program director, said.
The renovation is sure to allow classes in the ballroom to run more smoothly, with more updated technology and higher quality sound.
“[OLLI] also want[s] to do things that would not only improve the experience for the OLLI members themselves, but for the university as a whole, so [the renovation] was just a perfect fit,” Riggio said.
The renovation of the ballroom is just one of the many ways that OLLI members have contributed to the community. For example, Bradley’s COM 103 course was changed when the interaction of students and OLLI members was put into place in 2016 and 2017.
“[Students] were matched [with OLLI members] by completing personal inventories … upon being matched, students had to contact the OLLI member, interview him or her, and then write a speech about their lives, loves, careers, and hobbies, and then the OLLI members were invited to listen to that speech,” Riggio said.
Aside from the enormous gift of renovating the Student Center, OLLI members have also served as judges at the scholarship expo and donated mugs to the Midnight Munchies program at the library during finals week.
Last year, OLLI donated 420 books to the Trewyn Book Drive. Volunteer hours are also given to Bradley students who participate in OLLI’s annual trivia night fundraiser.
“[Students] serve as ‘Bradley Brains’, meaning they sit with a table of trivia players and get to inject some knowledge and vigor, and help [OLLI members] answer some questions,” Riggio said.
OLLI encourages Peoria residents to continue learning throughout retirement.
“Our OLLI members experience such a warm welcome from Bradley students. Our members are always telling us how kind and polite [Bradley’s] students are and it’s just so nice to be welcomed on campus and to be a part of the campus, and our members just love coming to school at Bradley,” Riggio said.
In short, wear a smile, be kind and always hold the door open. Education is always useful.
