UND awarded $100,000 grant for OLLI The University of North Dakota has been awarded $100,000 by the Bernard Osher Foundation to continue funding for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). The Institute was established by UND in 2007 to create an open, accessible and innovative learning community for mature individuals in North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. The Benard Osher Foundation was founded in 1977 by Bernard Osher, a respected community leader in San Francisco. The philanthropic organization improves the quality of life for mature residents through post-secondary student scholarships, as well as art, cultural and educational grants. At present, the Foundation is supporting 123 Osher Institutes on university and college campuses in 49 states. “This is really great news and ensures another year of this great program,” said Robert Boyd, vice president for student and outreach services. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is the only OLLI in North Dakota. OLLI fosters accessible lifelong learning and personal growth for learners aged 50 and better by creating intellectually stimulating learning opportunities that will enrich their lives. Members are encouraged to participate in non-credit courses that are offered face-to-face at regular intervals during the year. Classes are taught by active or retired professors and professionals from UND or experts from the local community. Since the launch of the Institute in April 2007, OLLI@UND has a membership exceeding 300. “I made new friends, learned things that really stretched my mind, and created a hunger for more,” said Penny Olson, an OLLI member in Grand Forks. “OLLI is something that is making my life fun and exciting!" For more information about OLLI@UND, visit the Web at: www.olli.und.edu or contact Connie Hodgson, OLLI program coordinator, at 777-4840.