The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Oklahoma State University (OLLI@OSU) has received a second $1 million endowment from the Bernard Osher Foundation. The first million dollar gift was made in September 2010.   

The grant helps fund the engagement program that provides courses, workshops and travel trips for people 50 and older at sites in Stillwater, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Bartlesville and Yukon. 

The gift announcement was made at the program’s Spring Celebration Banquet on May 11. 

“OLLI is a perfect example of OSU’s historic land-grant mission of teaching, research and outreach,” said OSU President Burns Hargis. “The program is an incredible resource and we are delighted the Osher Foundation has once again made a generous gift to support our efforts. 

“The success of the program is due to the many volunteers who organize and teach the courses, as well as those who continue to have a passion for learning,” Hargis said. 

Since the program began in 2005, more than 14,000 enrollees have taken more than 600 courses through OLLI@OSU. 

“It is so exciting to see the growth of this program and how many people it reaches,” said OLLI@OSU director RuthAnn McCarthy Sirbaugh. “This program remains committed to continuing education for seniors by providing enriching experiences that improve their quality of life through classes, travel and other activities.”  

OLLI@OSU will be offering summer courses in all five of its locations in the state.  For more information on the program, please call the OLLI office at 1.800.765.8933, or go to http://education.okstate.edu/olli

To view a video of the $1 million gift announcement, go to http://www.ostate.tv/?play=F1643D0B-D282-D83D-CC21-4F2CF8977180