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Alumni Discount Codes
We offer discounts for our three alumni association partners: KU, K-State and Washburn. These discounts are only available for paid alumni association members and can only be applied to courses; they cannot apply to special events:
- KU Alumni Association Member Discount - KUAAFALL2022
- KSU Alumni Association Member Discount - KSUAAFALL2022
- Washburn Alumni Association Member Discount - WUAAFALL2022
Courses & Events
A Medley of Voices
October 13-27, 2022, Osher Institute In-Person (Lawrence, KS)
A Personal Journey Down the Arkansas River and It Impact on America's Heartland (1803 - the present day)

We will explore this heavily regulated river from beginning to end. From raging rapids to diversion dams for irrigation ditches, to dry streambeds, and finally barge traffic, we will examine the impact this wild, elusive, and embattled river has had on cities, towns and adjacent farmland, starting with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 through to the present day.
Instructor Bio: Hannes Zacharias is the Robert A. Kipp Professor of Practice for the KU School of Public Affairs and Administration following a 35-year career in local city and county government administration. He has served as City Manager of Boonville, Mo., Hays, Kan. and County Manager for Johnson County, Kan.
September 22, 2022 to October 6, 2022, Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse In Person (Prairie Village, KS)
Athletic Footwear from Converse All-Stars to Freestyles to Air Jordans
Jesse Owens won 4 gold medals in the 1936 Olympics with shoes by the Dassler brothers. We'll explore the design, technology, and materials needed to manufacture active lifestyle footwear and how to market high-end shoes. Finally, factors like forced labor sweatshops needed to keep Air Jordan costs at $25 (retailing at $200) will be examined.
Instructor Bio: Rich Hughes received a bachelor's degree from KU and a master's in computer science from KSU. Hughes worked in various information technology and data analytic jobs and is an avid history buff after retirement. He has written three books rooted in Kansas and American history: Netting Out Basketball, 1936, Hitler's Olympic Festival, and If the Shoe Fits.
October 13-27, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)
Auschwitz Protocol

September 21, 2022 to October 5, 2022, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)
Bird Banding: The Experience
Bird banding is the scientific practice used to monitor and study wild bird populations. Songbirds are captured in a mist net, aged, sexed and a small band is placed on the leg before its release. Join Janeen Walters, a federal and state licensed bird bander for over 25 years, as she provides a hands-on experience. We'll meet on Washburn University's environmental site outside of Topeka, first established by Karl Menninger in the early 1930's. A tour of Karl's home and science lab will also take place. While we enjoy a catered lunch, Tom Luellen provides a sneak peek into his Osher course, "Birds of a Feather: A History of American Birding." We'll be joined by special guest, Karl Menninger, grandson to Karl, who will provide family history and discuss his grandfather's long-time interest in nature and conservation. Join us for this unique experience.
Janeen Walters has been a federal and state licensed bird bander for over 25 years. She taught science to middle school students for 34 years until her retirement last year. There is plenty of work at Karlyle Woods to keep her busy! She is a zoo docent and a volunteer at Helping Hands Humane Society. Her hobbies include bird watching, nature studies, scuba diving, gardening, and reading.
Friday, September 30
9:30 a.m. - Arrive at 3440 NW Button Road, Topeka
1:00 p.m. - Depart
$45 fee includes demonstration, presentations, guided tours, and lunch.
Refunds will be honored on or before September 15 minus a $15 administrative fee.
Friday, September 30, 2022
Birds of a Feather: A History of American Birding

We'll cover John James Audubon and the frontier ornithologists he inspired. Then we'll examine the development of ornithology as a profession and the beginnings of conservation efforts, such as the Audubon Society. Finally, we'll review the popularity of modern birding, which started in 1934 with "A Field Guide to the Birds."
October 10-24, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)
Burns, Bagpipes & Barleycorn

November 22, 2022 to December 6, 2022, Northland Innovation Center In-Person (Gladstone, MO)
Donation to the Osher Institute
July 25, 2022 to December 31, 2022
Eugenics: Building the Perfect Race

We'll discuss the scientific validity of eugenics (passing on positive characteristics and eliminating the less desirable) and examine how eugenics enabled sterilization of persons with mental disabilities and anti-immigration statutes, and how Nazi Germany used it to sterilize and kill thousands. We'll also look at its legacy today.
Instructor Bio: Karl Menninger retired from a legal career in federaland state government, mostly dealing with issues concerning persons withdisabilities. He teaches courses on disabilities and the law and the insanitydefense at the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law.
September 21, 2022 to October 5, 2022, Northland Innovation Center In-Person (Gladstone, MO)
Exploring Reality Beyond Physics - Great Western Philosophers

Religions and science have different concepts of the nature of reality. In this course we will take a quick journey through the history of philosophy from Ancient Greece to modern America. Along the way we will examine the questions such as: does God exist? How can we know the truth? What is reality?
October 3-17, 2022, New Century Fieldhouse In Person (New Century, KS)
From Spurs to Silver Screen: Kansas Cowboy Poetry and History
"If there hadn't been a Kansas, there would not have been a cowboy." That is the basis for this class, which will cover our state's role in creating this legendary icon. We'll describe the history of the cowboy and how the cowboy has been portrayed in literature, movies, radio, and television.
Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at K-State. As a cowboy poet, he was proclaimed "Poet Lariat" by then-Governor Bill Graves. He serves as secretary of the national chapter of Western Wordsmiths, was named an Ambassador for the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, and is an official spokesperson for the National Day of the Cowboy.
October 3-17, 2022, Riley County Seniors' Service Center In-Person (Manhattan, KS)
George Washington Carver: Scientist and Inventor born into slavery

Born enslaved, Carver was raised by his former masters. At 11, he left to pursue his education, in Kansas, graduating from high school before earning a master's degree from Iowa State University. Carver taught for 50 years at the Tuskegee Institute while developing products from plants, sharing advanced techniques with struggling farmers, and advocating for racial harmony.
September 20, 2022 to October 4, 2022, Tallgrass Creek Retirement Community In Person (Overland Park, KS)
October 11-25, 2022, Northland Innovation Center In-Person (Gladstone, MO)
November 1-15, 2022, Village Shalom in Person (Overland Park, KS)
George Washington Carver: Scientist and Inventor born into slavery - Village Shalom Residents
Born enslaved, Carver was raised by his former masters. At 11, he left to pursue his education, in Kansas, graduating from high school before earning a master's degree from Iowa State University. Carver taught for 50 years at the Tuskegee Institute while developing products from plants, sharing advanced techniques with struggling farmers, and advocating for racial harmony.
November 1-15, 2022, Village Shalom in Person (Overland Park, KS)
George Washington Carver: Scientist and Inventor born into slavery- Tallgrass Creek Residents
Born enslaved, Carver was raised by his former masters. At 11, he left to pursue his education, in Kansas, graduating from high school before earning a master's degree from Iowa State University. Carver taught for 50 years at the Tuskegee Institute while developing products from plants, sharing advanced techniques with struggling farmers, and advocating for racial harmony.
September 20, 2022 to October 4, 2022, Tallgrass Creek Retirement Community In Person (Overland Park, KS)
German Settlements and Culture in Kansas

German is the most prevalent language after English and Spanish spoken at home in 77 counties in Kansas. Since 1854, thousands of German-speaking immigrants have sought better lives here, including Pennsylvania Dutch, Volga Germans, Mennonites, Austrians and Swiss. German churches dot the prairie, and some rural Kansans still speak a dialect of German.
September 22, 2022 to October 6, 2022, Aberdeen Village In Person (Olathe, KS)
Ghosts in the White House: The Men and Women Behind the President's Words

October 11-25, 2022, Brewster Place In Person (Topeka, KS)
Going for Baroque: Getting a Handle on Handel and Traveling Back to Bach

September 20, 2022 to October 4, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)
Grant, the General: The Civil War Campaigns of Ulysses S. Grant

Instructor Bio: Robert Smith, Ph.D., is the Director of the Fort Riley Museum. He has a doctorate in history from KSU and has published numerous articles on military history.
November 2-16, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)
Great Ballet Music

November 2-16, 2022, KU Edwards Campus, 163 Regnier Hall, In Person and Online (Overland Park , KS)
Harmony Around the Universe

Friday, September 23, 2022, Osher Institute In-Person (Lawrence, KS)
Historic Fort Riley Tour and Visit to Lindsborg, known as Little Sweden U.S.A
Fort Riley, established in 1853, is one of the Army's oldest posts. Our visit will consist of a guided tour of the U.S. Cavalry Museum, which chronicles the history of the horse-mounted branch of the service from 1775 to 1950; a guided tour of the newly renovated 1st Infantry Division Museum, the army's oldest and most storied Division; and a tour of the historic Custer House restored to its original 1870s look. We'll see St. Mary's Chapel, the historic Calvary Parade Field, and the gravesite of "Chief," the last cavalry horse of the army, and eat lunch on post.
We'll spend the night in Salina and enjoy dinner at Martinelli's Little Italy before departing for Lindsborg on Friday. We'll start the day with a Community Tour as our step-on-guide shares facts about Bethany College, the Old Mill and Swedish Heritage Museum, and the 1904 World's Fair Swedish Pavilion. Next, we'll be treated to a docent-guided tour at Birger Sandzen Memorial Art Gallery. Weather permitting, a traditional Swedish buffet will be served at Coronado Heights, the southern-most bluff in the Smoky Hills. We'll visit Small World Gallery, home of National Geographic Photographer, Jim Richardson. Then enjoy a guided tour of the Red Barn Studio of folk artist Lester Raymer. We'll end at 350 Degrees to learn more about Swedish holiday foods and purchase tasty treats for the trip home!
Thursday, November 3 and Friday, November 4
7:30 a.m. - Coach departs the Edwards Campus, 12600 Quivira Rd., Overland Park on Thursday and returns Friday by 7:45 p.m.
8:30 a.m. - Coach departs the Osher Institute, 1515 Saint Andrews Drive, Lawrence on Thursday and returns Friday by 6:45 p.m.
9:35 a.m. - Arrive Manhattan Junction (I-70 & KS-177) on Thursday and return Friday by 5:35 p.m.
$310 per person for single occupancy
$245 per person for double occupancy
Fee includes coach transportation, lodging, museum and gallery fees, guided tours, presentations, one breakfast, two lunches, and one dinner.
Refunds will be honored on or before October 20 minus an $80 administrative fee.
All participants must present a government issued ID.
November 3-4, 2022
Historic Kansas City Bus Tour
This guided tour takes us by scores of Historic Sites with photo stops. You'll be treated to a first-person account by Octave Chanute, the civil engineer who designed and built the 1869 Hannibal Railroad Bridge. Learn about the man who mentored the Wright Brothers and has a town in Kansas named in his honor. Explore sites like the Santa Fe Trail Ruts, Satchel Paige's Grave, Case Overlook Park, the Missouri River Boardwalk, Lewis and Clark campsite, and others. Learn the stories behind KC's 8th Street cable car tunnel, Quantrill, Union Station Massacre, KC's first skyscraper, Thomas Swope and his murder, Nell Donnelly Reed's company and her kidnapping, the Battle of Westport, Political Boss Tom Pendergast, the NFL's longest game, and KC as the BBQ Capital of the World. We'll enjoy lunch at Minsky's pizza located in the historic downtown City Market.
Wednesday, November 16
8:00 a.m. - Coach departs the Osher Institute, 1515 Saint Andrews Drive, Lawrence and returns by 4 p.m.
9:00 a.m. - Coach arrives Edwards Campus, 12600 Quivira Rd., Overland Park and returns by 3 p.m.
$95 fee includes coach transportation, tour guide, and lunch.
Refunds will be honored on or before November 1 minus a $20 administrative fee.
Wednesday, November 16, 2022
History of Lecompton: Birthplace of the Civil War
We'll start the day in Lecompton with a reenactment of the 1850s Town Hall meeting while watching the "Bleeding Kansas" play, featuring unique characters who shaped Territorial Kansas. Next, we'll tour the 1882 Territorial Capital Museum, housed in Lane University, where President Eisenhower's parents were married. Lunch will be served at the 1884 Methodist Church (Windsor Hotel) home to the famous 1885 Chickering Grand Piano. We'll then enjoy a short walk past downtown shops to 1856 Constitution Hall, the National Historic Landmark and Kansas' oldest wood frame building. We'll end the day with a presentation by Historian T. Kevin Griffin (retired Major) and discuss the impact the Lecompton constitution, written in the most famous unknown room in America, had on Lincoln, Douglas and pre -Civil War USA.
Friday, October 21
9:15 a.m. Arrive at 640 E. Woodson Ave., Lecompton
2:00 p.m. Depart
$50 fee includes "Bleeding Kansas" play, museum fees, guided tours, presentations, and lunch.
Refunds will be honored on or before October 6 minus a $15 administrative fee.
Friday, October 21, 2022
History of the World from the Hadean to the Holocene

Friday, November 18, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)
How Hitler Came to Power

October 10-24, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)
Kansas City: The Adoption Hub of America and the Willows Maternity Sanitarium

This course will share the reunion of a mother and daughter 66 years after being separated at birth at the Willows Maternity Sanitarium. We will delve into the history of the Willows and dozens of other maternity homes that brought more than 100,000 young women shrouded in secrecy to Kansas City.
Instructor Bio: KelLee Parr holds bachelor degrees in agriculture and education plus a master's degree in adult and occupational education from Kansas State University. He has taught elementary school many years in Topeka and now writes science curriculum for Nancy Larson Publishers.
October 12-26, 2022, Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging In Person (Topeka, KS)
King Coal in Kansas

We'll explore the development of sub-surface coal mining in Crawford and Cherokee counties, making them the center of "King" Coal and resulting in milestones such as Pittsburg reaching 50,000 residents and UMWA membership exceeding 16,000, making it the world's zinc smelting capital. We'll also examine the emergence of area tycoons such as Mackie, Clemmons, and Spencer.
Instructor Bio: Ken Crockett was born in Pittsburg, Kansas in a second-generation family of coal miners. He was educated at Central Missouri State University (BA degree) and Washburn University of Law (Juris Doctor). He is the author of two books relative to Kansas mining (Missouri Coal Miners Strike and Kenneth and Helen Spencer, Champions of Culture & Commerce In The Sunflower State).
October 11-25, 2022, Senior Resource Center for Douglas County In-Person (Lawrence, KS)
Living a Narrative Life
September 22, 2022 to October 6, 2022, Osher Institute In-Person (Lawrence, KS)
Making Tracks: American Railroads Then and Now

November 22, 2022 to December 6, 2022, Osher Institute In-Person (Lawrence, KS)
Mobile Storytelling

October 31, 2022 to November 14, 2022, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)
Mother Teresa: A Powerful Presence in the World
Monday, November 28, 2022, KU Edwards Campus, 163 Regnier Hall, In Person and Online (Overland Park , KS)
Oodles of Noodles

Wednesday, November 30, 2022, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)
Opportunities Await in Oklahoma
Steeped in western influence and infused with warm Southern hospitality, Oklahoma City (OKC) is a growing cosmopolitan center with plenty to do! The history, cowboy culture, art, parks, high adventure, and unique districts make it a fantastic place to visit. On our way to OKC we'll stop by Guthrie, known for its large historic downtown district and enjoy a catered lunch at The Guthrie Depot in the old Santa Fe Depot, a former "Harvey House." We'll be treated to a presentation from the Guthrie tourism department before heading on to the Oklahoma City National Memorial, to see its recent $10 million renovation with state-of-the-art technology, hands-on exhibits, new artifacts, and detailed information on the investigation. We'll hear from a National Park Service Guide before our self-guided visit, followed by an exclusive First-Person Stories of Hope discussion where a survivor, family member or first responder will share their story with our group. After checking into the hotel, we'll take a playful boat ride and cruise along the Bricktown Canal with a tour guide providing historical insight. We'll enjoy dinner at Old Spaghetti Factory before returning to the hotel.
Friday, we begin the day with a guided tour at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Then we'll move on to the Oklahoma City Museum of Arts, which boasts one of the most comprehensive collections of Dale Chihuly glass in the world, including the 55-foot Eleanor Blake Kirkpatrick Memorial Tower in the atrium. We'll spend time in the galleries before enjoying tasty modern indigenous cuisine at Thirty-Nine Restaurant inside the First Americans Museum which just opened a year ago. Next, we'll be treated to a guided tour of the museum which showcases state-of-the-art exhibitions in First American history, culture, and art.
Thursday, October 6 and Friday, October 7
7:30 a.m. - Coach departs the Edwards Campus, 12600 Quivira Rd., Overland Park Thursday and returns Friday 8:45 p.m.
8:30 a.m. - Coach departs the Osher Institute, 1515 Saint Andrews Drive, Lawrence Thursday and returns Friday 7:45 p.m.
$440 per person for single occupancy
$370 per person for double occupancy
Fee includes coach transportation, lodging, museum and gallery fees, guided tours, presentations, one breakfast, two lunches, two dinners and snacks.
Refunds will be honored on or before September 21 minus an $80 administrative fee.
October 6-7, 2022
Osher Institute Gift Certificate
July 25, 2022 to December 31, 2022
Poetry Appreciation, Memorization, and Movement

October 11-25, 2022, KU Edwards Campus, 163 Regnier Hall, In Person and Online (Overland Park , KS)
Sharing Poetry from Incarcerated Individuals - A Look Inside the Douglas County Jail
Tuesday, October 4, 2022, Osher Institute In-Person (Lawrence, KS)
Significant United States First Ladies of the Modern Era
September 22, 2022 to October 6, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)
Small Spaces in High Places: The Geography of Andorra, Liechtenstein, and San Marino

November 3-17, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)
Stargazing with John C. Tibbetts

October 12-26, 2022, Edwards Campus KU Edwards Campus, Regnier Hall (Overland Park, KS)
Texas: A Revolution and A Republic?

November 22, 2022 to December 6, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)
Thanksgiving & Indigenous Foods: A Celebration

November 1-15, 2022, Brewster Place In Person (Topeka, KS)
The 1950s: A Decade of Prosperity and Change

In the'50s, American led the free world as we witnessed the move to the suburbs, the birth of Rock' n' Roll, the space race, a baby boom, hot rods, and drive-in movies. We'll examine the rebuilding of Europe, its division into the free West and the Soviet-dominated East, and the end of colonialism in the Far East.
Instructor Bio: Robert Smith, PhD, is the Director of the Fort Riley Museum. He has a doctorate in history from KSU and has published numerous articles on military history.
November 14-28, 2022, Lenexa City Hall at City Center and Online (Lenexa, KS)
The Art & Culture of the Dutch Golden Age

October 31, 2022 to November 14, 2022, KU Edwards Campus, 163 Regnier Hall, In Person and Online (Overland Park , KS)
The Contested Plains--The Making of a Docu-drama

October 11-25, 2022, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)
The Critical Self-talk Solution: How to Manage Unwanted Negative Self-talk

November 1-15, 2022, KU Edwards Campus, 163 Regnier Hall, In Person and Online (Overland Park , KS)
The Experiences of Six African American U.S. Army Officers in the Trenches of World War
Wednesday, October 5, 2022, KU Edwards Campus, 163 Regnier Hall, In Person and Online (Overland Park , KS)
The Federalist Papers: a Blueprint for the American Government

December 2-16, 2022, Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging In Person (Topeka, KS)
The History and Meaning of Veterans Day

Thursday, November 10
6:30-8 p.m.
Osher Institute
1515 St. Andrews Dr., Lawrence
$25 fee includes talk and reception.
Refunds will be honored on or before November 3 minus a $5 administrative fee.
Thursday, November 10, 2022, Osher Institute In-Person (Lawrence, KS)
The History and Tradition of KU Athletics

November 1-15, 2022, Osher Institute In-Person (Lawrence, KS)
The History of Photojournalism

September 21, 2022 to October 5, 2022, KU Edwards Campus, 163 Regnier Hall, In Person and Online (Overland Park , KS)
The Land Between the Mountains: Palouse, Great Basin, and Colorado Plateau

September 19, 2022 to October 3, 2022, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)
The Literary Resistance to Nazism

November 3-17, 2022, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)
The Medical History of the American Presidency
September 20, 2022 to October 4, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)
The Politics of Public Health

October 13-27, 2022, Washburn University Henderson Learning Center and Online (Topeka, KS)
The Roaring Twenties

October 10-24, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)
Three Powerful Women of the Populist Movement

Tuesday, November 1, 2022, Zoom Facilitated Sessions (Online, WEB)
Three Ship Disasters of the 20th Century: The Titanic, the Lusitania, and the Andre Doria

November 22, 2022 to December 6, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)
Travel To Europe
We will explore some of the best quaint locations in western Europe. Discover the ways to travel from someone who has done everything from backpacking alone to attending group tours by bus, rain or river boat. Countries will include Italy, France, Portugal, Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, Norway and England. Many learning experiences from over 26 trips to Europe will be shared with the class. Find out the "do's" and "don'ts" of travel that will make your trips more rewarding.
November 21, 2022 to December 5, 2022, Roeland Park Community Center In Person (Roeland Park, KS)
Trust the Science: Francis H. Snow and His Faculty Colleagues

October 11-25, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online (Lawrence, KS)
Woodstock at 50
Rock music during the 1967-69 countercultural era started with the Summer of Love and ended tragically just two years later. We will explore cultural and political events of the time from the Monterey International Pop Music Festival, through the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, and ending at the Altamont Speedway Festival. While Monterey introduced the world to many soon-to-be famous performers, Woodstock gave its name to a generation, and Altamont brought the era of love and trust to a sad end. Join the conversation as we recall this seminal time in American history.
Instructor Bio: Steve Lopes, AE, BA, MA, M Ed, was an educator for 15 years prior to 30 years of advocating for teachers as a Kansas-NEA organizer. He enjoys researching Rock 'n' Roll history and sharing it with Osher participants.
October 12-26, 2022, Eudora Community Museum In Person (Eudora, KS)
World Politics Today: What's Going On?

October 11-25, 2022, Mission Chateau In Person (Prairie Village, KS)
November 3-17, 2022, Tallgrass Creek Retirement Community In Person (Overland Park, KS)
World Politics Today: What's Going On? - Tallgrass Creek Residents
November 3-17, 2022, Tallgrass Creek Retirement Community In Person (Overland Park, KS)