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Online: July 9, 2025 to July 30, 2025
Wednesday at 10:45 AM
Required text: The Best American Travel Writing, 2018, Cheryl Strayed, ISBN# 978-1-328-49769-7. Everyone travels for different reasons, but one thing is certain, they come back with stories. Until 2021, the best of these human-interest stories were collected in the book series, The Best American Travel Writing. Students are invited to expand their horizons in this stimulating reading and discussion class. Two essays from the 2018 edition are discussed each week. (Essays are approximately 10 pages long.) Students should read the essays before class in order to understand and participate in the conversation.
Taught by: Jeff Ostroff
Lewes (Trinity Faith Education Building): July 16, 2025 to July 16, 2025
Wednesday at 12:45 PM
Dutch settlers considered the Delaware the finest and most pleasant river in the world. From Lenape treaties and betrayals through Revolutionary War battles and disputes over dams and power plants, the Delaware has been marked by historic events, characters and controversies. Join us on this illustrated and entertaining cruise through time down the historic Delaware.
Taught by: Gary Letcher
Online: July 24, 2025 to July 31, 2025
Thursday at 10:45 AM
Additional fee: TBD fee to cover site visit. Once a camp for Confederate prisoners of war during the Civil War, Fort Delaware has been maintained and restored to tell the stories of those who served at the fort. Pea Patch Island also provides an important migratory bird habitat along its marshy shores. After a class session that explores the island’s historical and environmental significance, we meet in Delaware City for an onsite visit. Please note additional fee mentioned above.
Taught by: Thomas Powderly
Online: July 8, 2025 to July 29, 2025
Tuesday at 10:45 AM
The Shroud of Turin is one of the most studied artifacts in current history. We cannot explain the image on it, nor reproduce it. It has been called the burial cloth of Christ. All research on it has disproven the possibility that it is forgery made by human hands. This class reviews the science study done in 1978 and briefly touches on the history.
Taught by: Raymond Hain
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): July 16, 2025 to July 16, 2025
Wednesday at 12:45 PM
In the waning days of transatlantic travel by sea, a revolutionary new ocean liner captured the imagination of the American people. For 17 short years, she was a floating example of American ingenuity, strength and style. Her afterlife was more than triple her glory days, and her legend lived on. Recently back in the news, the S.S. United States and her long saga make for a fascinating tale.
Taught by: Thomas Powderly
Online: July 9, 2025 to July 30, 2025
Wednesday at 9:00 AM
As a means of preserving personal legacy, memoirs have become a popular form of creative expression. But crafting a good memoir can be a challenge. To guide that journey, this course helps students master and practice the art of writing a good, readable memoir.
Taught by: Rae Tyson
Online: July 9, 2025 to July 30, 2025
Wednesday at 10:45 AM
Additional fee: Please note that this course requires an additional fee of $45. Participants receive a payment link from OLLI prior to the first class. Students learn a variety of watercolor techniques and how to apply them to a painting. Techniques include washes, wet-on-wet brushwork, dry brushwork, glazing and color mixing. Students practice techniques during each class completing a small example of each, then take what they learned to create a complete painting. Supply list is provided for students to purchase before class starts. Offered in partnership with The Art Studio, the arts education center of New Castle County’s Department of Community Services. Please note additional fee mentioned above.
Taught by: Karen Berstler
Lewes (Trinity Faith Education Building): July 8, 2025 to July 29, 2025
Tuesday at 12:45 PM
Extended discussion of the following poems by Robert Frost: The Star-Splitter (the subject to be considered in the first class), The Grindstone, The Ax-Helve, The Strong Are Saying Nothing, On a Tree Fallen Across the Road, Neither Out Far Nor In Deep, Love and a Question, and The Exposed Nest. For enjoyment and stimulation, let’s take the time to sit a spell and talk. As Frost urged his readers in The Pasture, “you come too.”
Taught by: William Zak
Online: July 10, 2025 to July 31, 2025
Thursday at 10:45 AM
Required text: Elizabeth Bishop: The Complete Poems 1927-1979. Elizabeth Bishop is one of the icons of 20th-century American poetry. We read and discuss selected poems in class.
Taught by: Marion Ehrlich
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): July 7, 2025 to July 28, 2025
Monday at 10:45 AM
Required texts: Kareem Between by Shifa Saltagi Safadi, Gather by Kenneth M. Cadow, The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag and The Enigma Girls by Candace Fleming. Get a taste of young adult literature by reading and discussing four books published for teens. What makes a book “young adult” and how well is it written? This summer’s theme is “resilient teens.” We read the above books, which are available in libraries and bookstores.
Taught by: Peggy Dillner
Online: July 8, 2025 to July 29, 2025
Tuesday at 10:45 AM
This course provides an overview of the origin, philosophy, key figures and enduring influence of the Bauhaus school of art and design. The school’s objective was to include all fields of art and apply basic principles to the material aspects of society. Participants examine works of some of the Bauhaus architects and painters. After a brief look at the school’s approach to crafts and performance art, we explore the influence on design in the United States. Outline at http://www.udel.edu/0013044.
Taught by: Robert Ehrlich
Online: July 8, 2025 to July 8, 2025
Tuesday at 9:00 AM
Listen to songs that express or celebrate the pluralism, equal rights and community of Americans. Selected songs represent folk music, videos or musicals.
Taught by: Robert Ehrlich
Online: July 31, 2025 to July 31, 2025
Thursday at 10:45 AM
Discover how Peace Week Delaware, a nonprofit nonpartisan organization, unites communities to address hunger, violence and injustice. As the organization marks its 10th anniversary, this discussion explores the power of small grassroots groups in driving change and how to get involved. The session includes presentations from two guest speakers engaged in peace advocacy in Delaware. This section takes place solely online.
Taught by: Christine Vitsorek
Lewes (Trinity Faith Education Building): July 10, 2025 to July 31, 2025
Thursday at 10:45 AM
This course looks at the evolution of ancient to modern medicine by examining the fascinating lives and times of key medical thinkers, philosophers and scientists. We review how they arrived at their insights and how those revelations and discoveries changed the world. This is intended to be a fun, engaging and interactive course.
Taught by: Sheldon Scheinert
Online: July 8, 2025 to July 29, 2025
Tuesday at 9:00 AM
We review what Jesus and Eckhart Tolle shared about conscious and present-moment living and other topics of interest to both of them.
Taught by: Deborah Brown
Lewes (Trinity Faith Education Building): July 8, 2025 to July 8, 2025
Tuesday at 10:45 AM
Coastal Concerts presents a classical music experience that delves into the background of guest artists, their instruments and the music. Featuring Strauss Shi and Tengyue (TY) Zhang, ArcoStrum is committed to redefining the 21st-century violin-guitar art form. ArcoStrum presents innovative chamber music that blends genres, eras and cultures and is known for the artists’ charisma and dynamic on-stage chemistry. Students receive a complimentary ticket for a future Coastal Concerts performance.
Taught by: Carol Dennis
Lewes (Trinity Faith Education Building): July 22, 2025 to July 22, 2025
Tuesday at 10:45 AM
Coastal Concerts presents a classical music experience that delves into the background of guest artists, their instruments and the music they are performing. This session highlights the Rosamunde String Quartet. This critically acclaimed all-star ensemble consists of musicians from three of the world’s greatest orchestras: Noah Bendix-Balgley, first concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic; Shanshan Yao (Violin ’08), member of the Kammerakademie Potsdam and former violinist in the New York Philharmonic; Teng Li (Viola ’05), principal viola of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; and Nathan Vickery (Cello ’13), cellist in the New York Philharmonic. Students receive a complimentary ticket for a future Coastal Concerts performance.
Taught by: Carol Dennis
Lewes (Trinity Faith Education Building): July 15, 2025 to July 15, 2025
Tuesday at 10:45 AM
Coastal Concerts presents a classical music experience that delves into the background of guest artists, their instruments and the music they are performing. This session highlights Seraph Brass. In its 11th season, Seraph Brass was founded by trumpet soloist Mary Elizabeth Bowden with a mission to showcase women brass players and musicians from marginalized groups, in personnel and programming. Winners of the American Prize in Chamber Music, the group performs as a 10-piece ensemble, as soloists with symphony orchestras and wind bands and in collaboration with other chamber artists. Students receive a complimentary ticket for a future Coastal Concerts performance.
Taught by: Carol Dennis
Lewes (Trinity Faith Education Building): July 29, 2025 to July 29, 2025
Tuesday at 10:45 AM
Coastal Concerts presents a classical music experience that delves into the background of guest artists, their instruments and the music they are performing. Windsync is a wind quintet that embraces the classics and the growing contemporary repertoire with a fresh sensibility. Versatile and vibrant, WindSync frequently eliminates the “fourth wall” between musicians and audience by performing from memory, creating an extraordinary connection. Students receive a complimentary ticket for a future Coastal Concerts performance.
Taught by: Carol Dennis
Online: July 7, 2025 to July 28, 2025
Monday at 12:45 PM
We explore four different productions of Die Fledermaus (two with English subtitles and two without). We discuss the creativity and view the entirety of each production.
Taught by: Larry Peterson
Online: July 10, 2025 to July 31, 2025
Thursday at 10:45 AM
This course is designed to guide students as they prepare their homes for sale, focusing on optimizing financial returns in support of their retirement plans. Students receive valuable insight regarding managing personal possessions and guidance on transitioning into retirement living. Topics include prudent decision-making regarding property enhancement and effective ways to address home inspections, appraisals and more. Students receive a free copy of the instructor’s published course book.
Taught by: David Harrell
An online section of this class has been added since catalog publication.
Wilmington (Arsht Hall): July 9, 2025 to July 30, 2025
Wednesday at 9:00 AM
Name calling can be a slippery slope to fascism. But, what is real fascism? While Italy and Germany provide historical examples, is there anything comparable in the United States? It is an old Republic, and the guardrails are many.
Taught by: John Bullock
This class has been added since catalog publication.
Online: July 10, 2025 to July 31, 2025
Thursday at 9:00 AM
Epic historical novels tell the stories of the cultures they arose from and the stories of the people who lived those histories. In doing so, they often provide an alternative perspective on the details of that long ago past. That’s what we’re discussing this summer, but they’re not generally what you’d call “beach reads.” For this course, we’re traveling to Australia, with Kate Grenville’s A Room Made of Leaves, and to India, with Abraham Verghese’s Covenant of Water.
Taught by: Rebecca Worley
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Delaware
OLLI is an academic cooperative for adults 50 and over to enjoy classes, teach, exchange ideas and socialize together, with no exams or educational requirements for participation. OLLI welcomes you.
Kent/Sussex | Wilmington