This week, as the Copiah-Lincoln Community College faculty and staff welcome back students from the holiday break and prepare for another rewarding semester, I would like to remind the community about the benefits of our Special Interest program.

We hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful holiday season with family and friends, but we are all too aware of just how exhausting the season can be. With 2019 kicking off, take the time to consider doing something for yourself. You may find that one of our non-credit special interest classes is just what you need to explore new or old passions and hobbies, or to build and enhance skills that could help you in your personal and professional lives.

There are a variety of new special interest classes available this spring, as well as some old favorites. The schedule kicks off with Grant-Writing Basics, which will be a two-night workshop, meeting on Thursday, Jan. 31 and Feb. 7. You will leave this course with the tools and knowledge you need to create award-winning grant proposals. CEUs are available for this course.

If you have neglected your creative side lately, we have several opportunities for you to get crafty and awaken your inner artist. There will be three opportunities to take Metal Clay Earring Making. On Feb. 5 and 7 you can make unique heart earrings, followed by a workshop for beautiful hoop earrings on March 5 and 7, and then another chance to make the one-of-a-kind dragonfly wing earrings on April 2 and 4.

We are also happy to announce that Introduction to Zentangle (Tuesdays and Thursdays, Feb. 18-29) is back this semester, followed by a chance to further your skills with Intermediate Zentangle (Tuesdays and Thursdays, March 19-28). Zentangle is an artful form of drawing, often referred to as “yoga for the brain.” Calm you mind one pen stroke at a time. We are also thrilled to introduce Mixed Media Painting (Thursdays, April 4-25) to our schedule. This class is for anyone with a desire to paint, no matter the skill level. Your imagination is the only limit to what you can create.

For those of you looking to enhance or develop skills that will help you professionally, there will be five different computer classes covering the most commonly used Microsoft Office programs and set up for different skill levels.  Computer Concepts & Intro to Microsoft WORD will be February 20 and 21, immediately followed by Advanced Microsoft WORD, Feb. 26-28. Then we will switch gears and offer Excel for Beginners on March 20 and 21, Intermediate Excel on March 26-28, and wrap up the series with Advanced Excel, April 2-4. CEUs are available for select computer classes.

If you are looking to de-stress and be healthier in mind and body after the chaos of the holidays, you will have the opportunity to hit the mat with Intro to Yoga Basics on Wednesdays, March 20-April 3.

Finally, good news for all those that enjoy the outdoors and observing nature, especially our winged feathery neighbors. Introduction to Birding starts on Feb.26 and will meet on Tuesdays every two or three weeks with field trips scheduled in between and ending on May 7. The class has a flexible format in order to schedule outings according to weather and to span the spring migration period.

All classes offered at the lowest possible cost and designed to be stress-free. Our aim is to provide an avenue for lifelong learners in our community striving toward new skills, hobbies, and personal enrichment. This program is created with you in mind so as always I welcome any and all feedback.  Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for some classes and require pre-approval. For more details on classes available, please contact Emily Williams at 601-446-1103 or email emily.williams@colin.edu.

You may also register at the Willie Mae Dunn Library on the Co-Lin Natchez campus and remember to keep an eye on our Facebook page. Pre-registration is required for all courses and class sizes are limited, so sign up today and give yourself or another the gift of life-long learning.

Emily Edwards is the Learning Resources Coordinator at Copiah-Lincoln Community College Natchez Campus.