BROOKINGS Fun subjects you like. No stuffy, overheated classrooms, but a variety of venues out in the community where a good cup of coffee or a proper cup of Earl Grey tea might be part of the curriculum and no pop quizzes or final exams.
Thats what OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) is all about. While OLLI has its ties to University of South Dakota (Sioux Falls), it offers its programs in Sioux Falls, Vermillion and Brookings. The OLLI spring 2025 catalog advises students to Learn for the love of it. In Brookings, in-person and Zoom classes will be in March, April and May.
Dianne Hawks of Brookings serves on the OLLI Leadership Council. She formerly worked at the South Dakota Art Museum and is one of the sponsors present at the creation of OLLI, which started about 2007 in Sioux Falls. She helped bring it to Brookings.
Additionally, Hawks has been an OLLI course instructor in the past: Mostly hobby classes, I do some beading. She doesnt see herself as a teacher, referencing OLLI classes as mostly a collaborative effort, more of the social classes. I have a few of those mixed in with the educational classes.
Hawks noted that OLLI gets much of its attention via word of mouth.
We started with our core group, she explained. People heard about it, they told their friends, their relatives. Its that type of thing: the love of learning, being social, getting out and about here in Brookings.
She added that OLLI has been a big draw for older people, maybe fiftyish, lots of retired teachers. They take a few classes and they turn into instructors. and its women and men, lots of men. We recruit everybody.
Some sessions complement others
Its always nicer to do something rather than just hear about it, Hawk explained, because many OLLI classes involve interaction between the presenter or facilitator of the program and attendees. And oftentimes some Brookings OLLI sessions complement others.
For example, on April 22 Prudence DeBates, secretary of the South Dakota Art Museum Guild, will present Idyllic Great Britain, a journey through the countrys picturesque scenery and historic landmarks. She has taught several OLLI courses about travel and food. In addition to being an avid traveler, she has lived abroad.
Women in attendance might follow that up with Make Your Own Fascinator, a session on May 8 with Sandy McFarland, also a member of the OLLI Leadership Council: Be your our own milliner and make a fascinator (mini hat) to wear to a British afternoon tea or any special occasion, the OLLI catalog says.
Voila! On May 22 comes British Afternoon Teas Their History and Their Taste! Presenting it all will be Graham Wrightson, a native of Coventry, England, and an associate professor of history at South Dakota State University, where he teaches ancient and medieval history.
The OLLI catalog says: The class will cover the history of British afternoon tea, also called cream teas, and the class will then get to sample one with all the trimmings discussed in the talk (minus the champagne!). Let this be the piece de resistance for attendees at either or both of the above two British-oriented sessions.
Zoom sessions also offered
OLLI offerings in Brookings are categorized by topic: Art, Current Events, Expanding Your Mind, History, Health and Wellness, Literature, Science and Tech, and Travel and Tours.
Several of the Brookings sessions include food and drink, and theres even a hands-on baking workshop. Understandably, these sessions have a fee that is in addition to an OLLI membership fee ($180 for two semesters, $100 for the 2025 spring semester).
We like to promote our local restaurants, Hawks said.
The fee may be upfront and non-refundable at the time of registration or it may be picking up your own tab at the restaurant.
In addition to the many in-person offerings with limited availability determined by location, OLLI offers a lot of Zoom courses that can accommodate 300 students.
Registration for in-person courses in Brookings and in Vermillion begins at 9 a.m., Feb. 19. Registration for classes in Sioux Falls begins at 9 a.m. Feb. 20. While registration for Zoom classes begins Feb. 19, there is no need to hurry; register online at your leisure.
Hawks did note that some classes do have limitations that are determined by the location. But we always have a waiting list; even if (a class) is full, go ahead and sign up. We do try to take care of the waiting list.
There are three ways to register for OLLI: Log onto www.usd.edu/OLLI; call 605-274-9528; or by mail to 4801 N. Career Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57107.
Locally, for additional information on OLLI, Dianne Hawks can be reached at 605-693-3897 or Sandy McFarland at 605-692-1295.
Contact John Kubal at [email protected].
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