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![\"Founding](\"http:\/\/www.daytonastateinmotion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/F-Wise-1.jpg\")
<\/a>Justina Newman\/In Motion<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\nThat is where the WISE program at Daytona State College comes in. Since 2009, the series of educational workshops has offered continuing education for old and young inquiring minds in the community. To date, the program has presented close to 300 workshops and seminars, some for educational purposes and others strictly for entertainment.<\/p>\n
In 2009, Jerome \u201cJerry\u201d Krueger and his wife Dr. Esther Krueger spearheaded the idea of senior education at Daytona State College. Jerry had been on the Board of Trustees for Union County Colleges in New Jersey and had also been a part of LIFE, or Learning Is Forever \u2014 an educational program geared toward senior citizens with classes offered off-campus at times and locations more convenient for their students.<\/p>\n
Once the idea was broached with the president of the college, all they needed were people to come to it. Together with Dr. Bernard \u201cBud\u201d Gropper, his wife, the late Dr. Roberta Gropper, and John and Louis Sauter, the WISE program was born.<\/p>\n
The initial headcount was 75 seniors; at its peak, 350 members were in the audience. Today, an average of 260 people gather for each seminar. Donald Large, the former Mayor of Daytona Beach Shores and current member of the Advisory Committee for WISE, believes that their membership will only continue to grow. In 2015 alone, the group has grown large enough to have to move out of the Madorsky Theater and into the culinary hall in the Mori Hosseini Center, Building 1200.<\/p>\n
Large was referred to the program in the early 2010 by a friend and he himself is responsible for three or four referrals of his own since then.<\/p>\n
Kent Ryan, Dean of the Flagler and Palm Coast DSC campuses, enjoys the program and the people immensely. \u201cThey\u2019re full of opinions,\u201d says Ryan, who heads the Advisory Committee for the WISE program, along with a number of volunteers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all funded by the members,\u201d Ryan explains. \u201cThere are no sponsors. An annual membership is $25 for one person, and $45 for a couple. That includes access to the seminars, but also the DSC libraries and other facilities. They also get refreshments after seminars and discounted tickets to certain events, and they are allowed to bring guests to lectures as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
The lectures range from discussions about immigration laws to yoga and all topics are chosen by the Advisory Committee. If a particular seminar doesn\u2019t speak to a member, they are not obligated to attend, but a lot of members say this is not an issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe try to think of what would be of interest to seniors and base everything around that,\u201d Large says, adding that some of the main interests are politics, entertainment and current events.<\/p>\n
A lot of the speakers are DSC professors, but most are just people selected from the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe try to use local experts,\u201d says Bud Gropper, a founding member. \u201cThey can tell us about their experiences and their stories.\u201d<\/p>\n
The WISE program is offered by the Daytona State College Foundation and meets every Tuesday in the Mori Hosseini Center from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and is open to seniors 50 and older, as well as whatever age guest they want to bring.<\/p>\n
Upcoming events for the Spring semester include: \u201cFood, Climate and Drug Interactions\u201d with Dr. Andrew Harris on March 2 ; \u201cSocial Media Part 2 \u2013 Twitter and Instagram with your Grandchildren\u201d with Dr. Ronald Eaglin on March 3; \u201cDiseases Threatening Florida\u201d with Dr. Ken Nusbaum on March 10; \u201cDaytona One Update with DIS\u201d with Andrew Gurtis on March 31; \u201cMyths, Mysteries & Legends of St. Augustine\u201d with Dr. Nancy Duke on April 7; \u201cMarine Discovery Center: Prescription for an Ailing Lagoon\u201d with Chad Truxall on April 14;, \u201cLaughter Yoga is the Best Medicine\u201d with Diane Trask on April 21; and \u201cDiabetes: Myths and Facts\u201d with Professor Myra Vergani on April 28.<\/p>\n
For information on the programs, call 386 506 4425 or visit their website DaytonaState.edu\/Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Chloe Chidester In Motion Staff Writer College is the traditional route for high school students to get a good job, make a lot of money and generally have a good life. While not restricted solely to adolescents, they do make up a higher proportion of students on campuses around the Continue reading WISE up! Never too old to learn something<\/span>