Members of an early ORICL board are, standing from left, George Jasny, Janet Evans, and Martha Hobson; sitting from left, Jeannie Cole, Reeva Abraham, Harwell Smith, and Murray Rosenthal, founder and first board president. (Submitted photo)
In recognition of the 20th anniversary of the Oak Ridge Institute for Continued Learning (ORICL), a celebration will take place on Thursday (September 7) at its home base, the Oak Ridge Branch Campus of Roane State Community College (RSCC).
Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally will read a proclamation in honor of ORICL’s 20 years of providing educational experiences for hundreds of retirees in and around Oak Ridge.
RSCC President Chris Whaley will speak on “Lifelong Learning: the Roane State Commitment to ORICL and Oak Ridge.” He will mention Tennessee Reconnects, the state-funded program that will start in fall 2018 to provide a free two-year education to willing adults in Tennessee who have no degrees.
Starting at 2 p.m. Thursday in the lobby of the Coffey-McNally building, a reception with nutritious refreshments will be held for ORICL founders, members, instructors, other volunteers, and attendees from the public.
At 2:30 p.m. in the City Room (A-111), ORICL President Bob Olson will recognize the ORICL founders, including those who served on the first board of directors in 1997. Inaugural annual awards will be given for an instructor and a volunteer, and a surprise donation from ORICL to Roane State will be announced.
“Reflections of Two Early Presidents,” a brief video interview with Murray Rosenthal, founder and first president of the ORICL, and Hal Schmitt, an early board president, will be shown.
Before keynote speaker Whaley delivers his talk, Bob Hatcher, distinguished professor of geology at the University of Tennessee and long-time ORICL geology instructor who usually concludes his courses with memorable field trips, will speak on “Teaching at ORICL.”
Also expected to attend are Beth Harwell, speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives, and Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch.
This story and photo were submitted by Carolyn Krause.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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