From left, Cody Maher and Kaleb Allen being enthusiastic about welding class.
By GAYLA CAWLEY
LYNN — The Lynn Community Enrichment Program is wrapping up this week, after seeing success in its first session.
Tony Dunn is the program coordinator of the night courses at Lynn Vocational and Technical Institute, which were offered three evenings a week, over a winter session that began on Jan. 25. He said the first semester of doing the program was a success, with over 100 people — 18 years of age and older — enrolled in 14 different classes.
Dunn said the spring session will begin on May 2, with 20 courses offered and 17 teachers participating.
“We’re going to do it as long as the need is out there,” Dunn said. “Hopefully it will grow. We want it to grow in the vocational aspect and be a chief resource for people to learn about different careers and find a way into those careers.”
Courses offered in the winter session included oil burner technician, milling machine operation, welding, introduction to the internet, conversational English and Spanish, yoga, cake decorating and cooking.
“People were very happy to get out of their homes and do something,” Dunn said. “They learned something that isn’t available to them normally. It’s an opportunity to learn skills they may develop into jobs in the future.”
Dunn said yoga was the most well-received class offered over the winter.
“Everyone raved about how peaceful and calm it made them feel,” he said.
Dunn said the courses are only six weeks in length and tuition is $60. Courses offered in the spring will include a writing course for people who would like to write their memoirs or a novel,
introduction to lathe, carpentry, a course to teach people how to be a nanny, CPR and first aid, and computer application in Spanish.
Initially, as a committee for the program, Dunn said it was thought that doing a spring session would be rushing the program. However, he said the enthusiastic response has told him to keep going. He said School Superintendent Dr. Catherine Latham has been instrumental in moving the program forward.
With the success, Dunn said the opportunity is there for three sessions a year in the future.
“We’re excited about it and hope people are too,” he said.
Gayla Cawley can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley