Parkland Senior Citizens Receive Computer Class Completion Certificates
Larry Gordon, a participant at the Oasis Center’s senior computer class, shows off the certificate he earned for completing the classLocal Residents of All Ages Gain Valuable High-Technology Skills at Oasis Center
Louisville, KY--At the Oasis Living in Freedom and Excellence Center in the Parkland neighborhood of Louisville, the center’s first senior computer classes recently ended. The five students spent several weeks learning about computers and their applications.
For some of the participants, the courses were their first time using a computer, while others were able to fine tune their current skills. Despite their different skill-levels, the participants praised the course and lamented its end.
“I hate to see the class end,” participant Larry Gordon said following the recent end-of-class certificate ceremony and luncheon. “It was very enlightening.”
Thanks to a donation from ConnectKentucky and its partners, the Oasis Life Center has been able to provide community residents—both young and old--with access to a free computer lab outfitted with computers and printers. The lab also has laptop computers for use at the center or on loan.
The center was formed in 2003 by Elim Baptist Church members to house a program to help young people learn more about the technical side of the music business. Since then, the center has become a nonprofit agency and offers afterschool tutoring, parent workshops and outreach for people dealing with HIV-AIDS, along with the senior computer training classes.
Michelle Patrick, the center's executive director and a retired teacher, said she has seen the need for such a lab for years.
“I remember when I taught at Meyzeek [Middle School], so often kids had projects but no access to computers at home to work on those projects,” she said. “That always stuck with me.”
Along with all of its current activities, the Center will add GED preparation classes starting in January 2010. Also, the Center has plans to offer online college preparatory and foreign-language courses and video editing for teenagers, Patrick said.
“I like to tell people we're small, but we have lofty goals,” she said.
Related Information:
Press Release: Nine Louisville-area Non-profits Receive More than $40K Worth of Computers, Printers
For some of the participants, the courses were their first time using a computer, while others were able to fine tune their current skills. Despite their different skill-levels, the participants praised the course and lamented its end.
“I hate to see the class end,” participant Larry Gordon said following the recent end-of-class certificate ceremony and luncheon. “It was very enlightening.”
Thanks to a donation from ConnectKentucky and its partners, the Oasis Life Center has been able to provide community residents—both young and old--with access to a free computer lab outfitted with computers and printers. The lab also has laptop computers for use at the center or on loan.
The center was formed in 2003 by Elim Baptist Church members to house a program to help young people learn more about the technical side of the music business. Since then, the center has become a nonprofit agency and offers afterschool tutoring, parent workshops and outreach for people dealing with HIV-AIDS, along with the senior computer training classes.
Michelle Patrick, the center's executive director and a retired teacher, said she has seen the need for such a lab for years.
“I remember when I taught at Meyzeek [Middle School], so often kids had projects but no access to computers at home to work on those projects,” she said. “That always stuck with me.”
Along with all of its current activities, the Center will add GED preparation classes starting in January 2010. Also, the Center has plans to offer online college preparatory and foreign-language courses and video editing for teenagers, Patrick said.
“I like to tell people we're small, but we have lofty goals,” she said.
Related Information:
Press Release: Nine Louisville-area Non-profits Receive More than $40K Worth of Computers, Printers