Learning Institute for Elders at University of Central Florida

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Learning Institute for Elders at University of Central Florida The Learning Institute for Elders at University of Central Florida a Lifelong Learning progeam for Adults 50+

Established in 1991, the Learning Institute for Elders at University of Central Florida (LIFE at UCF) is a 501©3 organization in partnership with the university. Members, 50 and older, enjoy stimulating, non-credit classes on the UCF campus, which are taught by faculty from the various colleges within the university or by professionals from the local community. In addition, LIFE members are offered opportunities to participate in experiential learning experiences through field trips and travel offerings. LIFE’s partnership with UCF provides many benefits: meeting space for 800 members on a weekly basis, campus parking, shuttle buses, library privileges, free or reduced admission to sporting events and musical/theater performances. LIFE at UCF has reciprocated with over $600,000 in research awards and scholarships for deserving faculty and students. In addition, LIFE members often volunteer as participants in research projects impacting older adults. LIFE at UCF, a largely volunteer organization, is managed by its Board of Directors, which is comprised of 18 members. A small staff assists with coordinating various committees charged with the successful oversight of this dynamic lifelong learning program.

What an incredible "Charge On" excursion for LIFE members! Our private tour of the UCF athletics facilities gave everyon...
10/10/2026

What an incredible "Charge On" excursion for LIFE members! Our private tour of the UCF athletics facilities gave everyone an unforgettable, behind-the-scenes look at what makes Knights’ gameday so special.

Highlighted was the ‘Bounce House’. Members experienced the exclusive, bird's-eye views of the premium club seating from Levels 3, 5, and 6 of the brand-new Roth Towers. We journeyed through the fabulous center designed to elevate the premium spectator experience and support year-round events. This 15,650 sq ft area includes a state-of-the-art broadcasting space, coaches rooms, security center, premium indoor club lounges & covered outdoor space. A WOW!

We got a rare, insider look inside the UCF locker room where the team prepares for the game. We experienced that legendary 'Charge On' energy just like the players do on UCF Gameday …..from reaching the field through the tunnel, stepping onto the stadium turf, and looking up into the stands of cheering fans! What an absolute experience!

We wrapped up our tour with an informative Q&A session in the Knights Leadership Center. Our two guest speakers were Rich Zvosec- Senior Deputy Athletics Director, Internal Operations and Maoj Chopra- NCAA Faculty Representative. These Athletics Administrators oversee the student-athlete & are passionate about their academic success.
We learned about the inner workings of the sports program and student-athlete life as the UCF Knights charge into their second year of the Big 12 Conference.

Special thanks to Andrew Poppell, Associate Director, ChargeOn Fund for orchestrating such an amazing educational experience!

October 6th LIFE Lectures began with a compelling presentation, "From Gift to Legacy: The Power of Organ and Tissue Don...
10/07/2026

October 6th LIFE Lectures began with a compelling presentation, "From Gift to Legacy: The Power of Organ and Tissue Donation." Jaison Abraham, Executive Director, OurLegacy and Dr. Bobby Nibhanupudy, Executive Medical Director, OurLegacy shared the importance of the program that grants life to those awaiting organ donation. There is a critical need for individuals to ensure that heir family and loved ones know that we have indicated a willingness to mak he ultimate gift of personal organ donation. It is also possible that following terrible time of grief that if a loved one passes away that we can give the legacy of life and donate the deceased organs to those waiting for organs to become available. Chris and Laura Dawkins, donor parents and co-founders of Brooke Strong, shared their personal devastating story of losing their beautiful daughter
Brooke several years ago and making the ultimate gift of her organs to individuals waiting for organs.
Our second speaker gave a challenging discussion regarding the complex world of finance as it relates to Blockchains. Cuneyt Akcora, Associate Professor, Department of Finance, UCF gave a mighty explanation of how blockchains, a decentralized, shared digital ledger that securely records transactions across a network of computers, can be used for good and evil and how we might recognize the difference.

22 LIFE members thoroughly enjoyed their tour of the Canine Companion Southeast Region Facility, which included the admi...
10/04/2026

22 LIFE members thoroughly enjoyed their tour of the Canine Companion Southeast Region Facility, which included the administration building, doggy dormitories and dorm rooms where the clients stay when they come to meet and pick up their dogs. One of the highlights we saw was the training room with dog demonstrations showing us the pups' learned skills, their playground and kennel. Having a dog come right up to each member and allowing for petting certainly caused many to fall in love with the beautiful black and golden labs. We heard how Canine Companions service dogs increase independence by reducing reliance on others, helping to restore confidence and freedom. Imagine a dog that turns on lights, retrieves dropped items, opens doors, and alerts to sounds or changes in blood sugar. Canine Companions has been and is the pioneer in canine research, studying canine cognition, health and genetics to set the path and lead the service dog industry.

Our visit was so educational and informative and was an experience we will long remember.

Today LIFE attendees listened to a powerful lecture on what it takes to come back from the brink of death and relearn ho...
09/30/2026

Today LIFE attendees listened to a powerful lecture on what it takes to come back from the brink of death and relearn how to live. Brandon Watson, a Certified Recovery Peer Support specialist shared with us his emotional story of surviving a life altering medical crisis and his journey of personal discovery. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room as he shared the pain and the joys of his experience.
Our second timely lecture “Bringing Democracy to Life: How You Can Help” was presented by Karen Castor Dentel, Orange County Supervisor of Elections. She shared the mysteries and truths regarding voting, elections, and the role each of us can play in keeping our democracy strong. It was an eye opening behind the scenes look at the voting process.

Fifty UCF LIFE members attended the Trippin’ to Limbitless Solutions on September 14th. Limbitless provides high tech b...
09/24/2026

Fifty UCF LIFE members attended the Trippin’ to Limbitless Solutions on September 14th. Limbitless provides high tech bionic arms for children at no cost. The children are able to design the theme and colors of their bionic arms from superheroes to rainbow colors. We viewed the production design, molding, and assembly areas. The heartwarming and wonderful stories about the children they help were both inspiring and emotional!

On September 2, LIFE members got a behind-the-scenes look at the Hitt Library at UCF.You won’t find many books lining th...
09/24/2026

On September 2, LIFE members got a behind-the-scenes look at the Hitt Library at UCF.
You won’t find many books lining the walls, but the books are still there! More than 1.3 million books are stored in the library’s Automated Retrieval Center (ARC), a robotically guided storage system. Request a book through the library website, and in about 10 minutes, a library staff member can retrieve it and have it waiting for you at the front desk.
There are five floors devoted to providing the right kind of environment that students need; quiet floors, conference rooms, group study areas, PC docking stations, and Barnies for those much-needed coffee breaks.
But the biggest WOW came on the fourth floor at the Digital Exploration Center.
This cutting-edge hub for digital scholarship features state-of-the-art production and podcast studios, sound booths, and an immersion room offering a 270-degree learning experience.
Don’t just take our word for it—stop by and explore it yourself after Tuesday’s lectures. You might be surprised by what you find!

On a Friday morning, late August, a group of art-loving LIFE members were treated to a private tour of the Orlando Museu...
09/24/2026

On a Friday morning, late August, a group of art-loving LIFE members were treated to a private tour of the Orlando Museum of Art. Our knowledgeable OMA docents led us through all TWELVE exhibits at the 12th Annual Florida Prize in Contemporary Art. We spent 1 1/2 hours viewing immersive, expansive and colorful site-specific installations. The work of every artist challenged our understanding of conceptual art. Our educational tour ended with a photo-op in front of Dale Chihuly’s “Cobalt and Citron Tower.”

In our ongoing quest for LIFElong learning, thirty LIFErs met with Michael Wainstein, Director of the UCF Theatre Department after class on Tuesday. We toured the Main Stage theater, the Scene and Costume Shops, and the Black Box Theater. We learned about moveable and stationary lighting, and saw multiple shows in the building process. Michael spoke to us about the audition process (mostly video), the building of a season with the securing of necessary Rights, and the various obtainable degrees from UCF. It was an interesting hour spent on campus.

On September 22, 2026, the LIFE at UCF Lectures began with a presentation from David Dumke, Executive Director, UCF Glob...
09/23/2026

On September 22, 2026, the LIFE at UCF Lectures began with a presentation from David Dumke, Executive Director, UCF Global Perspectives and International Initiatives (GPII) and colleagues providing us with some background information on GPII’s Conflict Transformation Program. We were given a look at UCF’s unique creation of strategic opportunities through immersive global experiences and intercultural dialogue with a strong focus on conflict transformation and peace building. UCF Fellow Ashley LaFlamme wowed us with her enthusiastic firsthand peacebuilding experience in Ireland and shared that her takeaway from her travels was “Hope!”
Our second lecture gave us the inside look at the history of Florida’s muscadine grapes. Dr. Robin M. Back, Assistant Vice Provost, Undergraduate Studies, UCF began with a surprising little-known fact that the first w**e produced in the US in the mid-1500s originated with the Florida grown muscadine grape. Dr. Back suggested that a wider knowledge of the unique muscadine heritage and flavor characteristics would help rewrite the appreciation and flavor expectations of muscadine w**es.

This week, LIFE at UCF took us on a trip to the heavens followed by a historical perspective on the history of w**e. Dr....
09/16/2026

This week, LIFE at UCF took us on a trip to the heavens followed by a historical perspective on the history of w**e.
Dr. Stephen Eikenberry, Professor of Applied Optics, College of Optics and Photonics, UCF had us looking at the sky and wondering if we are alone in the universe. He discussed the involvement of NASA in celestial research and the impact of AI on the search for a hospitable environment. “Are we alone” is till up for debate.
Our second lecture was of great interest to the oenophiles among the LIFE membership. Jennifer Hostettor, MA, CSW, CSS, Instructor Foodservice and Lodging Management, Rosen College of Hospitality Management, provided a journey across a timeline for the making of w**e and how remarkable ancient civilizations were in their rudimentary, yet effective, techniques used to grow and harvest grapes. It was obvious by the depth of the questions after the lecture, that there were many in the room who appreciated the art of w**e making over the centuries.

On September 8th we kicked off the Fall 2026 semester and the start of a brand-new membership year with two inspiring pr...
09/14/2026

On September 8th we kicked off the Fall 2026 semester and the start of a brand-new membership year with two inspiring presentations. Members journeyed back to the founding of our nation with UCF historian David Head, exploring the events that led to the Declaration of Independence, and then experienced the beauty and artistry of live music with distinguished violinist Ilana Zaks-Nederlander.
It was a wonderful first day filled with learning, discovery, and connection. To our returning members, welcome back. To our new members, welcome to the LIFE at UCF family! Here's to another year of curiosity, friendship, and lifelong learning.

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P. O. Box 117
Goldenrod, FL
32733

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+14078235433

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