OLLI at UK

Last month, OLLI at UK Board members and instructors gathered to celebrate Lee Edgerton's Going Away party, a well-deserved farewell to thank him for his numerous and significant contributions to our OLLI. As a former Board Chair, instructor, and committee member, Lee has left an incredible mark on our organization. We are forever grateful for his dedication, expertise, and leadership, which have helped shape OLLI at UK into the thriving community it is today. We wish him all the best as he begins his next chapter!

This past Spring, we had some great community lectures via our Donovan Forum Series. Since 1970, the OLLI at UK's Donovan Forum Series has offered educational and entertaining presentations on Thursdays every Fall and Spring. These forums are free and open to the public. Stay tuned for an announcement regarding our Fall 2026 lineup of Donovan Forums!

This month’s featured OLLI at UK instructor is Karen Elliot:

What made you want to teach for OLLI?

Since moving to Lexington in 2023, my husband and I joined OLLI and participated in a number of wonderful courses. When people asked me what I do, I told them about my becoming a cellphone astronomer. They were surprised to learn that one could use a cellphone to take amazing photos of the night sky. Most had photographed sunrises and sunsets but found that photos they took of the night sky were washed-out and deleted the image. After showing some of my photos, I said the trick is to use your cellphone photo gallery’s built-in editing tools to adjust the brightness, exposure, contrast, sharpness and definition of your photos and how a washed-out photo may be edited to show a sky filled with stars and other celestial objects. I wanted to share this discovery with OLLI members who would like to learn how to navigate, take and edit photos of our amazing night sky. Plus, how to identify planets, stars, and constellations using SkyMap, Stellarium, TheSkyLive, and other astronomy apps.

What year did you first teach…..what was the class?

I first taught “Night Sky Photography with Your Smart Phone” in Fall 2025. Our spring “Astronomy SIG” – focused on learning to operate and troubleshoot telescopes issues. Unfortunately, the weather was not favorable for night observing sessions. We were also side-tracked and spent two and a half SIG meetings learning about, viewing, and sharing the excitement of the historic Artemis II Mission.

Most of us grew up watching John Glenn’s 1962 orbit around the Earth; the Gemini Missions space walking and docking; the Apollo 11 Mission with Neil Armstrong’s 1969 Moon walk; the launch of Skylab in 1973; the 1975 Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (command module pilot, Vance Brand, is from my hometown); the Space Shuttle Missions; the ISS; and now 54 years later we are finally headed back to the Moon with the Artemis Program.

What gives you the greatest delight in teaching for as opposed to any other teaching environment?

We are not required to give tests, grade papers, or prepare students for SOLs. Class discipline is nonexistent. There is no bell, absences or tardies will not affect grades, and we allow a 5-minute delay (Penny’s Rule) in starting class. We can play a game with “Alexa” towards the end of class - members pose questions or give answers – everyone wins glow-in-the-dark stars. And amazingly, adults 50 and over love space party favors!

What are you looking forward to in your upcoming class?

Our Summer 2026 OLLI Astronomy SIG will focus on night-time observing sessions with telescopes, binoculars, and cameras, troubleshooting issues, figuring out how to connect our cellphone with a telescope, taking and editing some great photos of the night sky. We will meet every other Wednesday afternoon at the Central Baptist Church, to plan observing sessions, improve photo editing skills, help each other troubleshoot mechanical issues (Alexa said she could help us), try out lenses, adapters, and discuss options for those wanting to purchase a new telescope. The Fall 2026 Astronomy SIG will include the history of the space program; models and a diorama of lunar landing sites, lunar landers, vehicles, and environmental and physical challenges of building a lunar base and living on the Moon.

What best prepared you to teach for OLLI?

I have always loved astronomy and bought my first two telescopes in the 1980s. My neighbor and I were so excited to observe Jupiter and four of its moons. In 2002, I began teaching high school earth and space sciences (astronomy, geology,

meteorology, and oceanography) and physics for Fairfax County Schools in Reston, Virginia. I was also a docent and space science lab instructor with the Smithsonian Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum – and pinched myself every time I entered the facility as a volunteer with the museum. I now have 8 telescopes, and am considering an 8 – 10 inch Dobsonian. Although my Samsung S24 Ultra is my favorite for taking wide swatches of the night sky and using the augmented reality of SkyMap and Stellarium apps to help me identify stars, constellations, and planets. TheSkyLive app can be set for your location providing real-time positions and visibility of planets, the Sun, our Moon, stars, constellations, comets, asteroids, spacecraft, and is an encyclopedia of most astronomical objects!

What, if any, are the challenges of teaching for OLLI?

It takes a lot of time to research and prepare PowerPoints, particularly Astronomy is as expansive as the universe!

This month’s featured OLLI at UK member is Dot Tibbits.

1. How did I first come to OLLI?

I had been watching a lot of TV art, Bob Ross, Jerry Yarnell and a few others. This looked like a lot of fun and I thought I would like to try it. I didn’t act on that until a friend invited me to go with her to an OLLI Open House. Lots of people, lots of excitement and all kinds of class offerings. I decided to try art.

2. How long have I been an OLLI Member?

I honestly don’t remember when I first joined, but it has been at least ten years. I have done mostly art. My husband and I have done several other classes, including topics such as drugs, history, and cell phones. We have attended a couple of Saturday SIGs. There’s always something interesting going on at OLLI.

3. Life Philosophy - Isolation is the enemy.

Socialization is very important to everyone but even more so to us as we age. Staying involved and connected with others, trying new things, making new friends helps to keep us healthy and happy. OLLI offers all of this. Memories In the art classes we are usually painting the same scene. It is amazing to see how different each picture turns out. Some are truly very pretty, others quite different. I think we learn something from each attempt.

As a group we have had some good laughs over our results of colors mixing, showing snowfall, some strange trees and lopsided buildings. The best part is I’m enjoying it and staying connected. I plan to keep trying.

The June newsletter is now live, featuring community events, upcoming dates for Open Houses, and more. Plus, don't miss our member and instructor spotlights, where we shine the light on the amazing individuals who make our community thrive. And, as always, we've got the latest news, updates, and announcements from OLLI at UK, so be sure to check it all out here: https://bit.ly/ollinewsletter-june26

Summer 2026 begins next week! We still have plenty of available classes, such as Beginner & Intermediate Violin, Fall Prevention & Home Safety Strategies, Living with a New Heart, and more! See our available courses at https://olli.uky.edu/uky (and for new members, $15 Summer memberships are also available!)

Registration guides also available at https://bit.ly/olliatuk-guides

Just over a month ago, we had the privilege of celebrating the harmony of community and creativity at our Spring 2026 Chorus Concert, where our incredibly talented OLLI Chorus and The Hot Cookies ukulele ensemble left us in awe with their breathtakingly beautiful voices and melodies that filled the air! It was a great concert that showcased the immense talent and dedication of our students. We can't wait to do it all again at our next concert!

Looking back at some great Donovan Forums from the Spring. For this round of community lectures, we had topics such as Alzheimer's awareness, horse jockeys, urban planning, the Jack Jouett House in Versailles, Berea College, and many more!

Our Donovan Forum committee has been hard at work developing the next round of great community lectures to take place at the Lexington Senior Center this Fall. Be on the lookout for an announcement this July!