June/July 2010 - Coulee Region Women's Magazine

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PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONALWise WomenKeep LearningIt’s never to late to pursue a degree, knowledge or a dream.by Shari HeglandContributed PhotoSSomeday, I would loveto learn .(You fill in the blank.)Chances are goodthat, whatever it is,you can find a place in theCoulee Region to learnabout your dream, whetherit is developing the skills forthe job you want, knittinga sweater on your own orcompleting that degree that wasput on hold years ago.With several colleges anduniversities, plus a wide range of privatebusinesses and public entities focused onhelping people advance their knowledge, theCoulee Region is a great place for women tolive and learn.Hands-on learning is key to dream jobWhen Globe University opened in Onalaska lastfall, Shawn Sokolik saw an opportunity to move closerto the kind of job she really wants.“I was working in a factory. I wasn’t making muchmoney, and it wasn’t something I wanted to do for therest of my life,” this La Crosse woman says. “Workingwith animals is something I’ve wanted to do since I wasa kid.”When she completes her associate’s degree as aveterinary technician in about a year, Sokolik hopesto work with the ASPCA, aiding animals that havebeen abused and abandoned.She had attempted to take classestoward a vet tech degree in the past, she says, but the classeswere largely online, then required three hours of travel toget to the occasional lab. At Globe, everything is located onthe local campus, including labs where they get to work withanimals in need.“It’s hands-on experience, which is the best way to learn—toactually do it,” Sokolik says.Globe’s class schedule, with support from Sokolik’s parents,has allowed the mother of two to pursue her dreams and spendtime with her family.“I try to do (homework) when my son is doing homework,or after the kids go to bed,” she says.Now it’s Mom’s turnGwen LaPour has helped guide children—her own, those shehas cared for through her in-home day care and numerous fosterand respite care children—for nearly 30 years.“I wanted to be the one who helped my children grow and learnthe values I felt were important,” she says, “to learn the character,integrity and respect I wanted them to have as young adults.”Though she attended college for a short time after highschool, her own education was set aside to care for her family.When the youngest of her four children graduated from highschool and started college, LaPour decided it was time toreturn to school herself, for the education she would need tobe a social worker.She started out with the Self-Sufficiency Program at theUniversity of Wisconsin-La Crosse, a program designed toextend the availability of higher education to low-incomeparents by preparing them to be successful college students.“(Program director Amy Sullivan) helped me see that I couldgo to school, and I could write papers and do different things,”LaPour says.Then, after talking to a counselor at Viterbo University,20 JUNE/JULY 2010 www.crwmagazine.com
Left: Through adult learning opportunities in La Crosse, Gwen LaPour (center) found a way to arrange her social work studies around her family.Center: UW-La Crosse’s Learning in Retirement program offers classes, arts opportunities such as the LIR Singers, and travel outings such as MississippiExplorer cruises. Right: Shawn Sokolik is pursuing her dream job as a vet tech through Globe University while raising her children.LaPour enrolled at Western TechnicalCollege, with the intent of taking hergeneral classes there and then transferring.When she struggled with the classes, shehad herself tested for learning disabilities.She learned that she is dyslexic, wasreading deficient and has ADD. Advisersat Western were able to help her find theaids she would need to succeed, includingbooks on tape.“I sit in class and I listen, and I taperecordthe class so I can sit and listen to itagain. It just takes a little while for me toprocess. That’s just my learning style,” shesays. “I’m enjoying going back to schooland the teacher interaction.”LaPour has been taking classes twoevenings a week, but because it makes itdifficult for her to provide consistent carefor her foster children, her goal for the fallis to take two classes online.If the online classes are a success, shehopes to transfer to Viterbo soon andcomplete the degree she is seeking.Learning knows no retirement“Your body needs exercise, and so doesyour brain,” says Sally Olson of La Crosse.Olson has been exercising her brain inthe 13 years since she retired from herjob as a registered nurse by participatingin the Learning in Retirement program atUW-La Crosse.Learning in Retirement offers classesin the fall and spring for retirees andothers who can attend classes during theday. There are a half-dozen classes eachsession, which meet four or five times fortwo hours each.“There is always one on finance, whichis, I think, very educational,” Olson says.This spring, she participated in a classon local Native American history andculture. Others classes she’s taken haveranged from bird watching and cookingto English literature and poetry.In addition to the classes, Learning inRetirement members can participate infield trips to museums, theaters and otherattractions or listen in on travel talks andthe Cabin Fever series of onetime talks inthe winter. There are also luncheons andmeetings in the fall and spring.“It is not only keeping your braingoing, but you meet so many really nicepeople,” Olson says. DHolmen freelance writer Shari Hegland lookslongingly through the noncredit class lists atlocal institutions, and wishes she had time totake them all. Someday …Resources for Continued LearningThe organizations listed below offer adulteducational opportunities at any level.Hobby and self-enrichment learning:The Pump House Regional Art CenterPottery studio and art classes.608-785-1434www.thepumphouse.orgMyrick-Hixon EcoParkEvents and classes onecology and nature.608-784-0303www.mhecopark.orgFranciscan Spirituality CenterPrograms on spirituality, art,yoga, writing and more.608-791-5295www.franciscanspiritualitycenter.orgW.I.S.E.(Women Initiating Safe Environments)Self-defense for women;eight-week program begins June 7.Three Rivers Martial Arts Academy608-784-9900http://threeriversmartialarts.comWestern Technical CollegeLifelong Learning program offersnoncredit courses ranging from artand needlecraft to computers,gardening, photography, small enginerepair and languages. Ed2go programoffers a wide variety of classes onlineeach month. 608-789-6100www.westerntc.edu/lifelonglearningUniversity of Wisconsin-La CrosseContinuing Education/ExtensionLearning in Retirement program offersshort-term classes on a wide rangeof topics. Art & Leisure programsinclude storytelling, archeologyand more. Online courses availablethrough JER Online and Ed2go.608-785-6506www.uwlax.edu/contedContinuing education andprofessional development:Western Technical CollegeOffers degree programs, continuingeducation credit classes andnoncredit classes to enhance job skillsin administrative fields, health care,food service, manufacturing and more.www.westerntc.eduwww.crwmagazine.com JUNE/JULY 2010 21
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June/July 2010 - Coulee Region Women's Magazine

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