|
|
| |
 |
College for Kids popular not just with kids—educators like it, too
Release Date:
June
12, 2008
 |
|
Kenzie McWade, a third-grader from Winola, and Nicholas Hawk a fourth-grader from Aledo, go head to head in a game of chess as their instructor, MC educational studies professor Craig Vivian, looks on. |
|
[print-quality
version] |
MONMOUTH, Ill. — Walk on the Monmouth College campus these days and
you will see scores of bright, smiling faces, most of which belong to
third- through eighth-graders.
The brightest, happiest smile, however, might just be found on the
face of a woman who is just slightly older—Kathy Mainz, the new director
of MC's annual summer enrichment program known as College for Kids.
"This is my passion! I was one of these kids," beamed Mainz, who said
that the happy memories of her own school days—many of which were spent
in accelerated programs—helped influence her decision to become an
educator and absolutely sealed the deal when she was asked to take over
the College for Kids program last fall.
Mainz's enthusiasm has paid off. Now in its 28th year, the program is
experiencing unprecedented popularity, with 238 students representing
eight school districts. There are 51 classes, with subjects ranging from
"Kitchen Chemistry" to "Art through the Ages." There are 18 teachers,
seven of whom are Monmouth College faculty and staff. In addition, five
Monmouth College students are serving as aides, as is one high school
student and Mainz's own 13-year-old son, Nick.
"The amount of interest we are seeing is incredible," Mainz said.
"Two of the school districts —Aledo and
Sherrard—have completely embraced the program, and send their students
here on buses. The number of kids from Sherrard, in fact, is about to
eclipse the number from Monmouth."
Mainz said she has been pleasantly surprised by the popularity of
some courses. "We have six sections each of 'Kitchen Chemistry' and
'Webmasters of the Universe,'" she explained. "Even more surprising to
me is that our Greek class (taught by MC assistant classics professor
Nick Dobson) has two sections."
The growing success of College for Kids may have something to do with
the personal attention offered by the teachers and staff. Mainz noted
that on the first day of this year's program she came across a mother in
the parking lot who was from out of town and whose car had broken down.
"She was beside herself with worry and said she didn't know what to do,"
Mainz related. "I told her just to relax and called my mechanic. He was
there in 10 minutes and jump-started her car. She was so surprised and
grateful.
"I told her that's what we do at Monmouth College. We're like a big
family here."
Speaking of families, this year's edition of College for Kids
features a trio of teachers all from the same family —Bob
Reedy ’77, his wife, Beth, and their daughter Katie. Bob is a teacher at
Monmouth's Lincoln School, while Beth teaches and Katie works as an
aide at Harding School in Monmouth.
College for Kids will conclude June 20.
Released
by the Office of College Communications
Barry McNamara, Associate Director of College Communications
Phone: 309-457-2117
Fax: 309-457-2330
|
| |
|
Home
> News & Events > Top |
| |
|
|
|
|
NEWS AT MC |
| |
|
The Monmouth College News Bureau is
administered by the Office of College Communications.
Located in the lower
level of the Admission/College Relations building, the office is
responsible for media relations, official college publications, the
college Web site and sports information. |
|
