|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.27.06 Students join seniors for celebration at retirement center Students from Dr. Karen Austen's "Introduction to Physical Education" class attended opening festivities Oct. 13 for a new walking track at the Due West Retirement Center (DWRC). Members of the class partnered with DWRC residents for the "Great Big Walk-Out," a walking race on the new track, helping the seniors warm up for the contest. Austen said a number of her students are athletically gifted, including some who are members of the baseball team. "It is not unusual for 'kinesthetic geniuses' to shy away from working with folks who may struggle with activities of daily living, such as seniors," she said. "I wanted these students to have an experience vastly different from their own, yet appropriate to the field of physical education and fitness." Due West Retirement Center Director Paul Bell, an Erskine graduate, was glad to see college students at the event. "DWRC residents love to be around Erskine students," he said. "They thoroughly enjoyed the time they got to spend with Dr. Austen's students and would be glad to have them return." Class member Anna Winters teamed with new DWRC resident Virginia Sides, who said she and her husband Charles had only been at the center for six weeks. Winters observed from the experience "that most people at the retirement center actually had a lot of fun, and they really enjoyed having us there." Joseph Hobbs, who took some photographs at the event and paired with retired teacher and Erskine alumna Dot Hill, reported Hill finished the race "with no problem." Hobbs also found humor in the day's events. "A person in a wheelchair beat someone who was walking," he said. "Of course, someone was pushing the person in the wheelchair." Katie Fleming became acquainted with Charles Sides, husband of Virginia Sides. "My health isn't very good, so I'm not able to walk as fast as my wife, who can practically run people over," Sides said. Fleming, who thought visiting the retirement center was "a good way to combine generations," said she was impressed by Sides' determination. "He will continue going no matter what," she said. "He will let nothing hold him back, even if he has to take small steps to get there." Greg Huff was also impressed by the resident he met, Fred Bridges. "He knew more about college football than most of us out there," Huff said. "They were actually more enthusiastic than I thought they would be," Huff said of the DWRC residents. "They were happy to take part in the race." Austen said another student, Stephen McCormick, told her he was "in a not-so-good mood" before the walking race, but reported he felt better after having walked and talked with Betty Stubbs, another resident with a positive attitude. "She was very happy about the race and cheered everyone on," he said. McCormick said he saw the time spent at the retirement center as a chance "to have a good time and reach out into the community," and came away with renewed appreciation for his family. "The most important thing I learned was to enjoy life and be grateful for your family that God has blessed you with," he said. Bell said there is a well-established relationship between Erskine and DWRC. "Erskine is one of the main reasons the retirement center was founded in Due West," he said. "The opportunity to take classes, attend the fine arts programs and athletic events, attend lectures, and get to be with young people is a very attractive benefit for center residents." Austen believes participating in the "Great Big Walk-Out" at DWRC was good for her students as well as for the residents. "I think the students learned that even when you do not have an ulterior motive or expectation and your actions are altruistic, you may receive something in return,” she said.
|
Search | Netnews Home | College Home | Seminary Home | Academics | Alumni | Athletics | Mission | The Gold Campaign | The Drummond Center | |
Trouble viewing this e-mail? Go to: |
