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Old Main to Old Main intergenerational program cultivates relationships among lifelong learners

Once a month, Kutztown University Honors Program students visit senior living residents at The Lutheran Home at Topton for Old Main to Old Main presentations.

Held on the first Wednesday of each month since October 2021, WIPS Wednesdays provide positive interactions between college students and senior living residents.

“The students get to interact and connect with the seniors. The seniors get a chance to share their backgrounds with the youth and give them encouragement and advice,” said Sarah Connely, community life director for The Lutheran Home at Topton. “We have seniors that either taught at the university or have graduated from the university.”

Each presentation entails research or a project.

“It provides education to the seniors on subjects they may not have heard of and news trends currently out there,” said Connely.

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Jennifer Schlegel, director of the Honors Program and associate professor of anthropology at Kutztown University, explained that WIPS Wednesdays stands for “Work In Progress Seminar.”

KU students in the Honors program have to complete an Honors capstone project. One of the requirements is to present their WIPS, which is their Honors capstone project to date. Those who have already presented their WIPS at KU are eligible to present to the residents at The Lutheran Home at Topton.

Each student provides an estimated 15-minute presentation of their work. These can include PowerPoint presentations or demonstrations.

“For example, we had a student demonstrate how to use Kutztown University’s scanning electron microscope, as it is possible to remotely access the SEM,” said Schlegel.

Another student played a prototype Eb flute that she designed and 3D printed.

“Students gain experience presenting their academic work in a supportive environment with a different audience than they are accustomed to in their classrooms,” she said.

The Lutheran Home senior residents respond with questions, comments and suggestions.

“More importantly, Kutztown Honors students can gain insight from Topton residents who share their insights and knowledge from their lifetime of experiences,” said Schlegel.

She hopes the senior residents at The Lutheran Home gain insight to contemporary takes on undergraduate creativity and research from highly motivated, curious and thoughtful students.

“Some of the residents have expressed their excitement and optimism for this new generation of scholars and professionals after learning about what they are up to. And I hope the residents feel the value and high regard the students have for them,” she said.

Ultimately, Schlegel said that the purpose of the program is to cultivate relationships among lifelong learners – the residents and the students – through intergenerational mentorship and intellectual curiosity.

“I see this as a step toward building more connections between these two institutions, something I think of as Old Main to Old Main, as each campus has a signature building called Old Main,” said Schlegel. “I am hopeful that this is the start of developing mutual mentorship and intellectual curiosity.”


Source: Berkshire mont

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