Plain Text Listing of Course Descriptions
Current Semester

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For questions, call 803-641-3741 or email info@aikenlearning.org.

Overview and Major Battles of the American Civil War 1861 - 1865

Meets: 3 Mondays
Date(s): Jan 12, 26, Feb 2 (no class 1/19)
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $10.00
Description: This course will present an overview of the American Civil War, including the major land battles and naval battles and cover each year of the war, 1861 to 1865. The Battles covered will include 1st Bull Run, Shiloh, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Vicksburg, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, Atlanta and the many battles around Richmond, plus other smaller battles in chronological order. Naval battles include the Monitor vs the Virginia at Hampton Roads and Mobile Bay. Each battle will include an overview, the Union and Confederate commanding generals/admirals, maps of the battlefield and key points, and a summary of the significance of each battle on the war. A PDF file of the slides will be posted online for future reference.
Instructor Biography: Edward Seufert earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech. His 44-year career included working at Eastman Chemical Company where he performed design and project engineering on chemical incinerator projects and pioneering the development of CADD systems to produce engineering drawings electronically. He continued his career at Savannah River Site doing design and project engineering on nuclear waste treatment systems and worked 10 years as a Shift Technical Engineer at DWPF mixing radioactive waste with molten glass for permanent disposal.

Exploring Windows

Meets: 5 Mondays
Date(s): Jan 12, 26, Feb 2, 9, 16 (no class 1/19)
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $25.00
Description: This course includes an overview, new features, apps (including the Start Menu), Edge Browser, and new ways to organize and track your work in Windows 11. Also included are methods of personalizing Windows 11, how to manage and back up files, protecting your computer from malware, and recovering from hardware failures or software corruption.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Russ Beckmeyer received his PhD from the University of Missouri. Dr. Beckmeyer has more than 50 years of applied computer technology experience: micro-computers, super-computers, networks, software, and computer security. After an extensive career at the Savannah River Site, he spent the last 5 years of his professional career as an engineering director for two different small nuclear reactors. Dr. Beckmeyer has been with the Center's Tech Section since 2018 and was named the 2021 Volunteer of the Year for the Tech Section.

Line Dancing

Meets: 6 Mondays
Date(s): Jan 12, 19, 26, Feb 2, 9, 16
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Aiken County Shrine Club, 1526 Columbia Hwy N, Aiken
Class Size Limit: 45
Cost: $18.00
Description: Line dancing is a choreographed dance with a repeated sequence of steps in which a group of people dance in one or more lines or rows without regard for partnering, all executing the steps at the same time. Lessons begin with basic steps, broken down and taught slowly for beginners and progress to more intermediate dances. A new dance is taught each week and dances learned in previous weeks are reviewed. Line dancing provides good exercise and is great food for the heart and brain as well as a great way to meet new friends. Come out and join the fun.
Instructor Biography: Brenda Taylor is a lifetime resident of Aiken; an active lifetime member and past president of CSRA Shag Club Aiken-Augusta; a line dance and Carolina shag instructor; and a member of SOS in North Myrtle Beach, SC for over 30 years. She teaches and attends club events all over the South.

Edgefield Pottery History

Meets: 5 Tuesdays
Date(s): Jan 20, 27, Feb 3, 10, 17 (2/17 is field trip)
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM; 2/17: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144; 2/17: Kiln site, Edgefield (details will be provided)
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $15.00
Description: In this course, you will learn the importance of Edgefield Stoneware Manufacturing through firsthand experience in identifying the distinctives of Edgefield Stoneware, the manufacturing process, and the social implications of slave-produced pottery and the life of David Drake, a.k.a. "Dave the Potter." Dr. McClendon's family began the first Edgefield Pottery Museum and his relatives still own the original 105 ft kiln site of Abner Landrum's "Pottersville," north of Edgefield. A field trip to the kiln site will occur at the end of this 4-session course.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Tim McClendon has taught at Emory University and has been an avid potter since early life, and his works have been in a number of museums and galleries. As a native of Edgefield, and having literally grown up in Pottersville, he has unique insight into the Edgefield Stoneware tradition and importance.

Tech Talk: Beyond Security

Meets: Tuesday
Date(s): Jan 20
Time: 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: 40
Cost: $5.00
Description: Beyond Security is a Tech Talk that highlights the vital role humans play in the cybersecurity chain. While advanced tools and systems are essential, this session emphasizes that true protection starts with informed and vigilant people. It explores how human judgment, awareness, and collaboration can prevent breaches that technology alone cannot stop. By focusing on the human element, Beyond Security encourages building a security culture where everyone becomes an active defender against cyber threats.
Instructor Biography: Gabriel Lemmaru has 20 years of hands-on experience in the computer and network security field. Gabriel has a MS in Information Security and Assurance. He is a Certified Ethical Hacker; Computer Hacking Forensics Investigator; a Cisco Certified Network and a Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate, also recognized with the formal NSA and CNSS 4011.

NATO Then, Now and the Future

Meets: 3 Wednesdays
Date(s): Jan 21, 28, Feb 4
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $10.00
Description: This course traces NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) from its 1949 origin to the present day. As a creation of the Cold War era it has been adapted to address international security challenges since the end of the Soviet Union. We'll also consider basic elements of NATO and specific NATO military operations in Europe and Afghanistan. Considering the emerging international security environment, how does NATO remain relevant and serve as a useful deterrent?
Session 1: NATO origin and early history
Session 2: NATO in the Cold War to 9/11
Session 3: NATO Post-9/11 and beyond
Instructor Biography: John Carman served 42 years as a US Naval officer and senior DOD civilian at US and NATO military headquarters in Europe, the US and the Pacific. Michael Durkee is a retired senior US Foreign Service Officer with 11 years of experience as a senior advisor assigned to NATO headquarters in Europe.

Rose O'Neal Greenhow: Rebel Queen of Washington

Meets: Wednesday
Date(s): Jan 21
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: Female spies conducted extensive skullduggery during the Civil War. A few women were so involved in espionage that they became spymasters. Rose O'Neal Greenhow was one of those spymasters. She used her social connections and charm to gather intelligence from powerful Union politicians. One coded message she sent in 1861 helped Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard win the First Battle of Bull Run.
Instructor Biography: Beverly Eggert, retired Beaufort County English teacher, served as the featured presenter and program coordinator for the lecture series presented in partnership with the Beaufort History Museum and the Beaufort County Library, as well as lecturer and program director for the Santa Elena History Center, and presenter for the South Carolina Humanities Center.

A Dive Into Diabetes

Meets: 4 Wednesdays
Date(s): Jan 21, 28, Feb 4, 11
Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $12.00
Description: Caring for your diabetes can be challenging! Learning diabetes self-management skills can help you manage your blood sugars and reduce your risk of future complications. Be prepared to learn about the diabetes disease process, what is considered "controlled" diabetes, the importance of moving more/sitting less, all about carbohydrates and healthy eating, including reading food labels and dining out, diabetes medications and the impact of sleep. You'll leave with practical tips on how to make small changes to live a healthier life and achieve your goals.
Instructor Biography: Cheryl Mehta is a licensed Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist with over 20 years of experience teaching people how to manage their diabetes and eat healthfully. She has a BA in Biology from Wartburg College and a BS in Food and Nutrition/Dietetics from ISU.

iPhone 101

Meets: 2 Wednesdays
Date(s): Jan 21, 28
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $18.00
Description: In this hands-on course we will cover the following: Navigating the iPhone, Passwords and Passcodes, screen gestures, apps, the Dock, Contacts and how to make a phone call. Participants must bring their charged device to the class. This course is for beginners to advanced beginners.
Instructor Biography: Vicki Gibboney has a BS in Education. She has taught elementary school. She has also taught and coached for the Center's Technology Section for over 20 years.

Hands on Nuclear Science: From Cookies to Quarks

Meets: 6 Wednesdays
Date(s): Jan 21, 28, Feb 4, 11, 18, 25
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Location: RPSEC, Room 117
Class Size Limit: 27
Cost: $18.00
Description: This course will provide participants with a broad and basic understanding of nuclear science fundamentals. Participants will learn about the atomic nucleus, isotopes, radiation, radioactive half-life, and the uses of nuclear technology in our world today in a unique and approachable manner. Each of the six sessions will involve innovative easy to understand hands-on activities, performed in pairs or teams, designed to engage participants and to reinforce key concepts. In one "hands-on" activity, participants "fission" Oreo cookies to simulate the nuclear process. In another activity, participants determine the "half-life" of M&M candies. Bonus: The cookies and candy can be consumed at the end of the activities.
Instructor Biography: Bill Wabbersen, a nuclear engineer, worked at the Savannah River Site for almost 30 years and retired from SRNS and later from NNSA. Bill has conducted nuclear science educational outreach activities across the US. Honors include the ANS Landis Public Communication and Education Award and CNTA's Nuclear Service Award.

Aiken's Growth and Change in the 1950s

Meets: 2 Thursdays
Date(s): Jan 22, 29
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $8.00
Description: When the coming of the Savannah River Plant was announced on Thanksgiving Day in 1950, Aiken was a much smaller and intimate town. There were few paved streets and people seemed to know everyone in town. But everything changed with the coming of the "Bomb Plant." This course will look at Aiken as it was before SRP and focus on how Aiken changed during the 1950s.
Instructor Biography: Allen Riddick is an Aiken native who graduated from Clemson University in 1978 and later received a master's degree from St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida. He has been the Aiken County Historical Society president since 1999 and has written three local history books. He is an avid collector of Aiken memorabilia, especially vintage photographs.

Unlocking MS Word: A Fun and Practical Course for Anyone

Meets: 4 Thursdays
Date(s): Jan 22, 29, Feb 5, 12
Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 10
Cost: $22.00
Description: This course is ideal for anyone who is new to MS Word or wants to enhance their document creation skills through engaging, hands-on practice. Participants will learn to create, edit, and format documents, making it easier to manage personal projects. The course is divided into 4 weekly 2-hour sessions, each focusing on different aspects of MS Word. By the end of the course, participants will feel confident using MS Word for various everyday tasks.?
Who Should Attend: No prior experience with MS Word is required, however comfort navigating the computer with the mouse and or keyboard is encouraged.
Instructor Biography: Terry Hallman holds a bachelor's degree in Education and a master's degree in Instructional Technology. Recently retired from Aiken County Public Schools, Terry boasts a 38-year teaching career. Her teaching experience spans all grade levels, from K-12 to offering professional development technology courses for fellow educators. Additionally, Terry has served as an adjunct instructor for both Presbyterian College and the College of Charleston.

Early Days of Aiken: Aiken Town Council Minutes 1842-1900

Meets: 2 Thursdays
Date(s): Jan 22, 29
Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $8.00
Description: Aiken has a well-known reputation for being a playground for wealthy northerners from the late 1800s on. However, prior to the Civil War, the Aiken Town Council minutes paint an interesting picture of what it takes to run a small southern town with very little infrastructure, very little money, but large aspirations. This course will present a look at the interesting, quirky, and sometimes odd business of the early days of Aiken.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Andy Dyer has been a biology professor at USCA since 2000. He has published two general science books; one on pesticide resistance and agriculture (Chasing the Red Queen, 2014) and the second on the microbiome (Eaters Digest, 2022). His interest in life-history patterns led him to study cemeteries, death certificates and old documents to better understand the people, places and things in Aiken County over the past 180 years.

Excel for Beginners: The Fundamentals

Meets: 4 Thursdays
Date(s): Jan 22, 29, Feb 5, 12
Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 10
Cost: $22.00
Description: Begin your journey into spreadsheet management with our beginners' Excel course, where you will explore the power of organizing and analyzing information with confidence. This hands-on course is divided into 4 weekly 2-hour sessions perfect for beginners seeking to build a solid foundation of Excel skills. Participants will learn to navigate the Excel interface, input and format data, and use essential formulas and functions to perform calculations. The class covers practical skills such as sorting, filtering, and using conditional formatting to analyze and highlight important information. By the end of this course, you will be able to create, edit, and organize spreadsheets, use charts for data visualization, and prepare workbooks for printing.
Who should attend: No prior experience with MS Excel is required, however comfort navigating the computer with the mouse and or keyboard is encouraged.
Instructor Biography: Terry Hallman holds a Bachelor's degree in education and a Master's degree in Instructional Technology. Recently retired from Aiken County Public Schools, Terry boasts a 38-year teaching career. Her teaching experience spans all grade levels, from K-12 to

George Walton of Meadow Garden

Meets: 4 Thursdays
Date(s): Jan 22, 29, Feb 5, 12
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $12.00
Description: As we celebrate 250 Years of History - 125 Years of Preservation, we will explore history through the life of George Walton, one of the youngest signers of the Declaration of Independence, and the preservation of Meadow Garden. We examine George Walton's life to see how an orphan became a leader in the Revolution. We meet the women of Meadow Garden, from Dorothy Walton and the enslaved woman Cloe, who were captured by the British, to author Octavia Walton LeVert. We will tour Meadow Garden and learn how it was saved from destruction by a group of determined women.
Instructor Biography: Ransom Schwerzler is the Director of Meadow Garden, home of George Walton, Signer of the Declaration of Independence. She has a degree in History from Auburn University. She manages exhibits, facilities, educational programs, and events while telling the story of the founding of our country.

A Developing Nation Through Women's Eyes: America in the 19th Century

Meets: 4 Fridays
Date(s): Jan 23, 30, Feb 6, 13
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: 40
Cost: $12.00
Description: This course views nineteenth-century American history through women's eyes, focusing on the stories of Dolly Madison, the Grimk Sisters, Elizabeth Blackwell, and Laura Ingalls Wilder. Through their experiences and voices, we will understand how America grew as a nation, politically, ethically, medically, and geographically.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Elizabeth Georgian is a Professor of History and chair of the Department of History, Political Science, and Philosophy at USCA, where she teaches a variety of courses, including women's history. In her spare time, she enjoys camping, kayaking, and hiking with her husband and rescued greyhounds.

Introduction to Digital Networks

Meets: Monday
Date(s): Jan 26
Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $15.00
Description: This course introduces participants to the capabilities of digital networks. Participants will gain a basic knowledge of various digital networks used to connect phones, computers, home automation, and home security. This includes network data limits and availability in this area. This lecture-based course with limited hands-on activity will acquaint participants with a broad overview of network digital options.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Russ Beckmeyer received his PhD from the University of Missouri. Dr. Beckmeyer has more than 50 years of applied computer technology experience: micro-computers, super-computers, networks, software, and computer security. After an extensive career at the Savannah River Site, he spent the last 5 years of his professional career as an engineering director for two different small nuclear reactors. Dr. Beckmeyer has been with the Center's Tech Section since 2018 and was named the 2021 Volunteer of the Year for the Tech Section.

The History and Practice of Yoga and Chair Yoga

Meets: 3 Mondays
Date(s): Jan 26, Feb 2, 9
Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $10.00
Description: Come learn about yoga! Yoga is beneficial to the mind and body. In this course, we will learn about the history & philosophy of yoga as well as the practice of breathwork, meditation and the physical practice of chair yoga. The first week will focus on the history, breathwork and meditation. The following two weeks will focus on the physical practice of chair yoga and each week will build upon the previous one.
Instructor Biography: Allyson Eidson is a local yoga & fitness instructor. She is certified in yoga as well as personal training, aerial & other fitness disciplines. Allyson started practicing yoga to manage stress & stay fit. She loves to teach yoga to help others find the calm in their day & move their body.

Using Your Android Devices

Meets: 2 Tuesdays
Date(s): Jan 27, Feb 3
Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $18.00
Description: Android phones are five times more numerous than iPhones in the world, and with a 2-1 advantage in this country. Android devices are manufactured and sold by many companies all over the world because the Android operating system is not proprietary. This course will help participants navigate the sometimes-confusing settings and app functions of Androids. Also, participants will learn about some of the most popular apps for Androids. Participants must bring their Android phones or tablets with them to the class and should also have with them the passwords that allow them to download apps, if their Android devices require passwords.
Instructor Biography: Dennis Harkins was a teacher and technology specialist in schools in Pennsylvania for over 30 years. He was also an adjunct professor at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia. He was also a member of the Philadelphia Area Computer Society and has been with the Center's Tech Section for more than 15 years.

TV Streaming

Meets: Tuesday
Date(s): Jan 27
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: 40
Cost: $15.00
Description: The world of TV Streaming can be quite confusing because of the many options available now to watch your favorite TV programs. Are you thinking about "cutting the cord" or exploring the TV streaming options available to you? Comparisons and features of live TV streaming, on-demand streaming and free TV streaming are presented. Smart TV technology and Internet connectivity for TV streaming are also presented.
Instructor Biography: Darrell Pluff has a bachelor's degree and post-graduate work from San Diego State University for teaching certification. He is a retired business education instructor who has taught at the high school and college level in the United States and Australia. He has been with the Center's Technology Section for over nine years.

Tech Talk: Traveling Smartly With a Smartphone

Meets: Tuesday
Date(s): Jan 27
Time: 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $5.00
Description: From "Rome to Rio" to currency calculators to WhatsApp to e-SIMs. A review of cell phone tips, tricks, equipment, and applications that will make your overseas travel much more efficient and enjoyable.
Instructor Biography: Bob Hood holds a BA degree from Franklin & Marshall College and completed the Executive MBA program at the University of Pittsburgh. He has designed and taught computer network courses and also ran his own technology consulting practice where he designed, installed, and managed computer networks, infrastructure and training for small business and non-profit clients. He has been with the Center's Tech Section for six years.

Horse Track Systems: Creating a Species Appropriate Environment

Meets: 2 Wednesdays
Date(s): Jan 28, Feb 4
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $8.00
Description: Horse Track Systems are a style of horse keeping that mimics their natural lifestyle. Inspired by Jamie Jackson's Paddock Paradise, Track Systems stimulate horses through four pillars: Friends, Forage, Freedom, and Fun. This allows for better support of the horse's well-being by encouraging movement through enrichment stations, guided paths, and strategic layout of resources. In this course, we will discuss common management practices, pasture upkeep, creation and installation of track systems, enrichment options, and resources for continued learning.
Instructor Biography: Caitlee Greene has been involved in the horse welfare industry for 15+ years, from barn hand positions to managing horse farms. Now as a full time equine bodyworker and track system consultant, she brings a whole-horse approach to clients. Empowering the horse's human with information is her passion, and the driving force behind continued learning. With training in numerous bodywork modalities, including sports massage, craniosacral, and osteopathic technique, she shares a unique understanding of the body, mind, and spirit balance.

Smart Home Security for Smart Seniors

Meets: Monday
Date(s): Feb 2
Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $15.00
Description: Most of us would like the peace of mind and convenience of knowing our home and everything in it is safe and secure. From Burglar Alarm Systems to Full Security Systems with and without cameras, this course covers all the systems available today. This course will help you determine the type of home security system that is right for you, your home, your needs, your lifestyle, and your budget.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Russ Beckmeyer received his PhD from the University of Missouri. Dr. Beckmeyer has more than 50 years of applied computer technology experience: micro-computers, super-computers, networks, software, and computer security. After an extensive career at the Savannah River Site, he spent the last 5 years of his professional career as an engineering director for two different small nuclear reactors. Dr. Beckmeyer has been with the Center's Tech Section since 2018 and was named the 2021 Volunteer of the Year for the Tech Section.

"Pirates of the Caribbean" and Beyond

Meets: 3 Mondays
Date(s): Feb 2, 9, 16
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $10.00
Description: A three-week exploration of the scourge of the seas. This course will present an overview of the history of piracy from ancient times through the Golden Age of Piracy ,the Barbary Corsairs and touch on modern pirates such as those from Somalia. In addition, the course will highlight the careers of such noted Golden Age pirates as Black Beard, Stede Bonnet and Anne Bonny.
Instructor Biography: Alexia Jones Helsley, historian and archivist, currently serves as senior instructor in history and university archivist at the USCA. She teaches South Carolina, Ancient and Medieval and Public History. She is the author of several non-fiction books including The Lost History of Aiken County, Beaufort, South Carolina: A History; Wicked Edisto: the Dark Side of Eden and A History of North Carolina Wine.

Concise Introduction to the History of Rock and Roll and Society

Meets: 4 Mondays
Date(s): Feb 2, 9, 16, 23
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $12.00
Description: This course will chronicle the musical and historical development of rock-based popular music from its formative stages through the 20th century. Popular music will be examined within the context of a rapidly changing society where music stands as a dominant force in popular culture.
Instructor Biography: Matt Henderson serves as a Lecturer of Music at the University of South Carolina Aiken, where he directs the USCA Jazz Ensemble and teaches applied low brass. A versatile performer and educator, he maintains an active career as a freelance musician, performing with symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles.

The Inspirational Journey of Dr. Matilda Arabella Evans

Meets: 4 Tuesdays
Date(s): Feb 3, 10, 17, 24
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $12.00
Description: The Inspirational Journey of Dr. Matilda Arabella Evans: This course explores the remarkable life and legacy of Dr. Matilda Arabella Evans (1872-1935), South Carolina's first African American woman physician. Born post-slavery and raised in Aiken County, Dr. Evans became a fervent champion for improved healthcare and civic rights for African Americans, especially children. The course will examine how her early experiences, deep religious faith, and innovative medical approaches allowed her to significantly enhance healthcare accessibility for families during the challenging era of racial segregation.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Walter B. Curry, Jr., an Orangeburg native, holds a doctorate in education. He founded Renaissance Publications & Educational Programs, LLC, to explore African American history and his Aiken County ancestry. An award-winning author and Author-In-Residence at the Aiken Center for the Arts, he promotes historical preservation and education across South Carolina.

What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Meets: Tuesday
Date(s): Feb 3
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: 40
Cost: $15.00
Description: This course demystifies Artificial Intelligence (AI) for adults seeking to understand how AI shapes our modern world and impacts daily life. No technical background is required just bring your curiosity and life experience. Are you curious about ChatGPT, wondering about AI in healthcare, or concerned about how AI might affect your profession and the future of work? This course provides a clear, jargon-free exploration of AI technology and its real-world applications. Through interactive discussions and hands-on demonstrations, you'll gain practical knowledge about using AI tools while understanding both their potential and limitations.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Larry Deschaine will guide you to the practical world of Artificial Intelligence. As Team Lead for Data Science at the Savannah River National Laboratory, Dr. Deschaine brings over 40 years of real-world expertise in making complex technology accessible and practical for everyday life. Dr. Deschaine's expertise and approachable teaching style will ensure you walk away with valuable, immediately applicable skills. Join us for this unique opportunity to learn from a leading expert who understands how to make technology work for you.

Sennsational Sky Stories

Meets: 4 Tuesdays
Date(s): Feb 3, 10, 17, 24 (2/10, 17 are events)
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM; 2/17: 7:00 PM – Until
Location: 2/3, 24: RPSEC, Room 217; 2/10: RPSEC Planetarium; 2/17: RPSEC Roof (see Description)
Class Size Limit: 30
Cost: $8.00
Description: In this course, participants will have an opportunity to learn about the planetarium, hear stories about constellations and see what is actually out there in space as captured by different telescopes.
Session 1: 100 Years of the Planetarium. This will be a discussion of the history of the planetarium beginning with the first system in 1923 to the newest Digistar system currently installed at USCA.
Session 2 (Event 1): Sky Stories. On February 10 (2-3 PM), we will explore the night sky throughout the year in the DuPont Planetarium, in RPSEC, with a presentation about many constellation stories from cultures around the world.
Session 3 (Event 2): On February 17 (7-9 PM) An evening of observing the night sky through the Bechtel Telescope, located on the roof of the RPSEC. There is an elevator, but this session may present a mobility problem for some students because it requires climbing about 23 steps. The rain date for this is February 19, rain or shine.
Session 4: Findings from Great Observatories. This will include discussions about findings from Hubble, SOHO, James Webb, and Vera C. Rubin.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Gary J. Senn is a professor of education; the Director of the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center, Dupont Planetarium, Center of Excellence in Educational Technology, Center of Excellence in Middle-level Interdisciplinary Strategies for Teaching, and RPSEC Observatory. He has been at USCA since 1992.

Tech Talk: Digital Calendars

Meets: Wednesday
Date(s): Feb 4
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $5.00
Description: The universal problem: information overload and feeling out of control. Electronic Calendars may assist by transition from "to-do lists" to "time commitment." In this course, we will discuss the three major calendars: Apple, Google and Outlook.
Instructor Biography: Wayne Rickman has a master's degree in computer management and has been an instructor with the Center's Tech Section for over 20 years. He is a retired U. S. Navy (Nuclear Submarine) officer.

iPhone 102

Meets: 3 Wednesdays
Date(s): Feb 4, 11, 18
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $20.00
Description: This hands-on course will cover the new offerings in iOS 26 as well as basic knowledge of commonly used Apple apps and features such as Email, Calendar, Passwords app, Maps, Messages/Texts, Translate and more. Participants should have an iPhone 11 or later (and this includes SE 2nd generation). Participants must bring their charged phone to class with the iOS 26 update if possible.
Instructor Biography: Cherry Johnson has an MBA and has done leadership training in the past. She has been a coach in the tech side of CLL for several years. Gretchen Pooler has been a coach for iPhone courses for over 10 years and an instructor for one semester.

The Wonder of Glass (and it Immobilizes Nuclear Waste)

Meets: 2 Wednesdays
Date(s): Feb 4, 11
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $8.00
Description: From beautiful art pieces to technological wonders, glass has enriched our world for millennia. The properties of the non-crystalline solid provide for applications across a spectrum, including architecture, electronics, telecommunications, exploration, and health care. Due to its stability and durability, glass is also an optimal matrix to immobilize nuclear waste.
Session 1 will provide an overview of the structure and properties of glass and the myriad applications to enrich our lives.
Session 2 will specifically focus on the use of glass to immobilize nuclear and hazardous wastes for thousands of years.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Jim Marra worked at the Savannah River National Laboratory progressing to the level of Advisory Engineer. He served as Executive Director of Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness from 2016 to 2023 and currently serves as the organization's Nuclear Technology Advisor. Marra has a PhD from Clemson University.

Eastern Mediterranean Cruise

Meets: Thursday
Date(s): Feb 5
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: Our trip will start in Rome. We visit other cities in Italy, including Pompeii. Next, we visit several cities and islands in Greece, amongst them are Santorini, Mykonos, Delos and Athens. The next stop is a visit to the ancient city of Ephesus, Turkey. As we head back west, we conclude the trip with stops at Dubrovnik, Croatia, and finally end in Venice, Italy.
Instructor Biography: Bob Hartung taught mathematics and coached various sports for 32 years at Port Clinton High School on the shores of Lake Erie. He and his wife, Nancy, have traveled to 67 countries around the world. He has presented various travelogue talks to civic and fraternal organizations, nursing homes and veterans' groups in Ohio.

Discovering Hidden Biodiversity in the World Around Us: Reptiles and Amphibians

Meets: 4 Thursdays
Date(s): Feb 5, 12, 19, 26
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $12.00
Description: This course deals with why reptiles and amphibians (herpetofauna) are referred to as hidden biodiversity and how they benefit from the protection of wetlands and other natural habitats. The lecture series will include presentations about selected species of SC 150+ species of reptiles and amphibians. Participants will learn techniques for identification and be provided ecological information about Aiken County's herpetofauna, answering the questions "How do you find them and what do you do about it when you do?"
Instructor Biography: Whit Gibbons, Professor Emeritus of Ecology (University of Georgia, SREL), has written 30 books, 250 scientific publications, and more than 1,000 popular articles on conservation and the environment. His latest book is Salleyland. Wildlife Adventures in Swamps, Sandhills, and Forests.

Spain's UNESCO Sites

Meets: 2 Thursdays
Date(s): Feb 5, 12
Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $8.00
Description: Spain has over 50 UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) sites, protected under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. These sites are a testimony to the country's rich historical, cultural, and natural legacy that citizens and tourists can experience in our contemporary society. This course explores a curated list of UNESCO sites in Spain, covering the history of the site, its social impact, and the intriguing and surprising conditions and challenges of conservation that some sites must undergo, entangled with politics, tourism, and environmental threats.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Angel Rañales is Assistant Professor in the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at USCA. His research expertise focuses on medieval studies, with special attention to book history and visual culture. He teaches courses on Spanish language, culture, and literature.

The Other Holy City: Aiken's Historic Houses of Worship

Meets: 2 Fridays
Date(s): Feb 6, 13
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $8.00
Description: Charleston is called The Holy City, but Aiken has a rich and fascinating religious history, too. During two course sessions, you will learn about Aiken's oldest religion, its oldest church building, and its oldest congregation, the people who made these institutions happen, and how Aiken welcomed a variety of faiths to build the community we enjoy today.
Instructor Biography: Linda Johnson is an engineer with a lifelong passion for history. As a researcher with the ACHM, she lectures on Aiken's Winter Colony homes, churches, and people, and she prepared nominations that put the Johnson Drugstore and the Hotel Aiken on the National Register. She has also served as President of the Historic Aiken Foundation since April 2022.

Understanding the U.S. Congress

Meets: 3 Mondays
Date(s): Feb 9, 16, 23
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $10.00
Description: The United States Congress is the most disliked branch of government, but people don't understand why that is the case. This course will investigate what Congress is constitutionally supposed to do, what it has delegated over the decades, and why it is frequently unable to operate as expected today. Course topics will include Constitutional requirements, congressional districting, types of representation, and how Congress functions to pass a bill. Current and historical events will be used as examples throughout the course.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Allison Hamilton has worked on national and local elections and has taught political science courses for over 25 years. She is currently the executive director of Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness in Aiken, SC, and teaches political science for Middle Georgia State University. Dr. Hamilton has a doctorate in Political Science from the University of Iowa.

Computer Security

Meets: Monday
Date(s): Feb 9
Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $15.00
Description: You have read about rogues hacking into commercial, government, and financial computer systems. Why do you think your computer is any safer? It is a lot easier and a lot cheaper to prevent an intrusion than it is to clean up after your computer has been compromised. Learn about protecting your Windows 11 computer from viruses, worms, adware, spyware, and malware. The second half of the course will address basic internet privacy and tracking. Learn how to protect your online identity.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Russ Beckmeyer received his PhD from the University of Missouri. Dr. Beckmeyer has more than 50 years of applied computer technology experience: micro-computers, super-computers, networks, software, and computer security. After an extensive career at the Savannah River Site, he spent the last 5 years of his professional career as an engineering director for two different small nuclear reactors. Dr. Beckmeyer has been with the Center's Tech Section since 2018 and was named the 2021 Volunteer of the Year for the Tech Section.

Google Picasa Photo Editing

Meets: Tuesday
Date(s): Feb 10
Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $15.00
Description: Picasa is a free program to be used for organizing and editing photos taken with a digital camera or an Android cell phone. It cannot be used on Apple computers or photos taken with Apple products. Google no longer provides support for this program. However. it is still in use by millions of enthusiasts to organize and edit their photos. Google support is not necessary. Participants will be given a thumb drive with the program to be installed on their home computer. Once installed on your computer, it automatically finds all of the photos on your computer and organizes them by date. You will learn a simple four-step process that allows you to quickly correct most of the common problems with most candid photos and you will be able to easily find photos taken even years ago.
Instructor Biography: Douglas Leader graduated with a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois. He worked his entire career at what is now the Savanah River Site, starting in the Reactor Technology Dept. and finally retiring from the Savannah River National Laboratory. He is a life member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Doug's interest in photography started when he was very young. For many years he had his own darkroom for developing and printing black and white photographs. He has been with the Center's Tech Section since 2010 and has coached and taught sessions in Picasa and Photoshop.

History in Headstones: For Heaven's Sake

Meets: 2 Tuesdays
Date(s): Feb 10, 17
Time: 12:15 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $8.00
Description: From pulpits to television screens, their voices shaped faith in America and beyond. Oral Roberts, Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Tammy Faye Bakker, leaders who stirred hearts, sparked movements, and left legacies that still echo today. In this course, we'll explore their remarkable lives and visit their final resting places, where stone and story meet. Join us for this unique journey through the lives, legacies, and lasting monuments of America's most influential religious figures.
Instructor Biography: Jeanmarie Bronson is a longtime member of Civil War Round Tables, the Clearfield (PA) Historical Society, the Lincoln Forum (Gettysburg), the Association of Gravestone Studies and other historical organizations. Prior to an interest in the American Civil War, she started studying the geography, society, and symbolism in cemeteries and the lives that make up the history of an era.

Applied Artificial Intelligence (Section A)

Meets: Tuesday
Date(s): Feb 10
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $15.00
Description: Discover how Artificial Intelligence can make your daily life easier in our engaging 2-hour workshop. We'll show you how to use ChatGPT and similar AI assistants to write emails and letters, plan travel, research health topics, understand and visualize information, write computer programs, and more. The workshop includes hands-on practice with popular AI applications. Perfect for adults who want to leverage technology to maintain an active, interconnected, and informed lifestyle. No technical background is needed just bring your smartphone or tablet and your curiosity. Small class size ensures personal attention and plenty of time for questions. *The same course will be taught February 17 and 24.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Larry Deschaine will guide you to the practical world of Artificial Intelligence. As team Lead for Data Science in the Savannah River National Laboratory, Dr. Deschaine brings over 40 years of real-world expertise in making complex technology accessible and practical for everyday life. His expertise and approachable teaching style will ensure you walk away with valuable, immediately applicable skills. Join us for this unique opportunity to learn from a leading expert who understands how to make technology work for you.

Duels, Murders and Hangings in Aiken

Meets: Tuesday
Date(s): Feb 10
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: Aiken County was originally part of the Old Edgefield District that had a reputation of being one of the most violent areas in the United States. This course will explore the violence and its possible causes. From Native American killings and Colonial violence to brutal Revolution skirmishes will be covered. The Sand Bar Ferry dueling grounds will be covered. The City of Aiken's first murder in front of Bully Bob's Saloon and the hanging of the Johnson gang will be featured in this unique presentation.
Instructor Biography: Pete Peters has been the President of Aiken-Barnwell Genealogy and History Society for 30 years. He is the Cofounder of the Battle of Aiken and currently is the Tourism Supervisor for the City of Aiken.

U.S. Policies - American Indians

Meets: 3 Wednesdays
Date(s): Feb 11, 18, 25
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: 40
Cost: $10.00
Description: We will attempt the impossible task of briefly reviewing history, significant legislation and regulations, and the status of 574 Federally Recognized Tribes (FRT), and State Recognized Tribes in three sessions. Discussion is encouraged as we explore the following:
Session 1: Indian Country with the arrival of immigrants and settlement. From first contact with Europeans in the 1500s, we'll highlight effects of the formation of the U. S.
Session 2: "Should we blame Andrew Jackson?" Assimilation, Trail of Tears, the Long Walk, boarding schools, citizenship, and military service are key concepts in this session.
Session 3: Life since the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. Sovereignty status of the 574FRT following the dissolution of tribal governments. Indian Country today.
Instructor Biography: Tiajuana Cochnauer's experience understanding U.S. policies toward American Indians was gained by teaching a required undergraduate course at Washington State University on treaties, serving as Acting Director of the Office of Tribal Relations for the entire USDA Forest Service and being a voting non-resident member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

Shady Characters of the Winter Colony

Meets: Wednesday
Date(s): Feb 11
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: There are several hilarious, scandalous, and murderous tales to be told about the residents of Aiken's Winter Colony. From the mysterious stabbing of a Winter Colony playboy to the possible German royal who lived in Hitchcock Woods and to the Winter Colonist who lost half of his face because of a fake medicine, this lecture will explore several shady stories and characters from Aiken's past.
Instructor Biography: Lauren Virgo was born and raised in North Augusta, South Carolina. She received a bachelor's degree in History with a minor in Fine Arts from Clemson University. She later went on to the University of South Carolina for her graduate studies, where she received a Master's in Art History and a Certificate in Museum Management. Ms. Virgo has worked professionally in the museum field for twenty years. She joined the staff of the Aiken County Historical Museum as their Collections Manager in June of 2017. In December of 2018, she became the museum's Executive Director.

Roman Republic Coinage

Meets: 3 Thursdays
Date(s): Feb 12, 19, 26
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $10.00
Description: In this course, we will cover the development of the ancient Roman Republic economy and monetary system in relation to historical events. From 510 BC to the end of the Republic in 27 BC, the Roman monetary system evolved from the use of crude lumps of bronze to handsome coinage. Roman Republic and Imperial economic and political systems projected power and propaganda over the Italian peninsula and across the Mediterranean and western Europe. Metals were based on bronze, copper, silver, and gold. Millions of these coins minted by the tresviri and generals have survived and are easily available satisfying many collection themes (e.g., year, heroes, gods, events, daily life, and animals).
Instructor Biography: Chuck Goergen earned a BS in Chemistry from the University of Detroit. He spent his over 40-year career at the Savannah River Site working with nuclear materials in Laboratories, Production, Engineering, and Projects across numerous facilities on the site. He spent a year on loan to the DOE Office of Nuclear Weapons and has interfaced with many DOE sites, and liaised with the IAEA. His international work took him to Japan, Austria, the UK, and Russia. He enjoys ancient and military history as well as coin collecting.

Home Surveillance Systems

Meets: Monday
Date(s): Feb 16
Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $15.00
Description: Should you decide that a home surveillance system might be right for you, this course will acquaint you with security camera systems along with the integration of Burglar Alarm/Security Systems and Camera Surveillance systems. Residential surveillance systems range from single to multiple cameras and can be incorporated into a comprehensive whole-house security system. Participants will learn about the interactions between these various systems and the networks that can be used to support their functions.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Russ Beckmeyer received his PhD from the University of Missouri. Dr. Beckmeyer has more than 50 years of applied computer technology experience: micro-computers, super-computers, networks, software, and computer security. After an extensive career at the Savannah River Site, he spent the last 5 years of his professional career as an engineering director for two different small nuclear reactors. Dr. Beckmeyer has been with the Center's Tech Section since 2018 and was named the 2021 Volunteer of the Year for the Tech Section.

Quick and Dirty Stock Analysis Using Yahoo Finance

Meets: Monday
Date(s): Feb 16
Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: Interested in publicly traded stocks? Yahoo Finance provides a huge amount of FREE information that lets you review stock fundamentals in just a few clicks on your phone or laptop. It's a quick way to get an overview of a company's stock in seconds, so you can decide whether it's worth your time to study it fully before investing. In just a one-hour session, we'll cover how to efficiently navigate stock information on Yahoo Finance, including important vocabulary definitions and how this information can be used in your investment research.
Instructor Biography: Laura Roden is a Professor Emeritus of Accounting & Finance at San Jose State University where she taught for 21 years before retiring to Aiken. She holds undergraduate and MBA degrees from Harvard University, and FINRA Series 7 (securities sales), 65 (investment advisor) and 79 (investment banking) certifications.

Tech Talk: Your Digital Legacy

Meets: Tuesday
Date(s): Feb 17
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $5.00
Description: Everyone has a digital footprint that doesn't expire when you do. How do you make sure your family, friends, and legal professionals can have access to your accounts in order to manage them? We will cover Apple devices as well as PC apps and password managers.
Instructor Biography: Vicki Gibboney has a BS degree in Education. She taught elementary school. She has taught and coached for the Center's Tech Section for over 20 years.

Aiken History is Railroad History: Story of Steel and Steam

Meets: 2 Tuesdays
Date(s): Feb 17, 24
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $8.00
Description: This course will review the many innovations and achievements of the South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company, and later the South Carolina Railroad and Southern Railway. These rail innovations not only contributed to the founding of Aiken but determined in a significant way how and why the town developed the way it did, laying the groundwork for our equestrian industry. We will finish the course by covering Aiken's changing railroad landscape, following the end of passenger service to Aiken in 1950.
Instructor Biography: Sam Ellis is Museum Coordinator at the Aiken Train Museum. An Aiken native, Sam has always had a fascination with railroad culture, particularly that of Southern Railway. Additionally, Sam's love of railroad folklore and music defines in a large part his work at the museum, as it frames our rail history through a unique lens.

Applied Artificial Intelligence (Section B)

Meets: Tuesday
Date(s): Feb 17
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $15.00
Description: Discover how Artificial Intelligence can make your daily life easier in our engaging 2-hour workshop. We'll show you how to use ChatGPT and similar AI assistants to write emails and letters, plan travel, research health topics, understand and visualize information, write computer programs, and more. The workshop includes hands-on practice with popular AI applications. Perfect for adults who want to leverage technology to maintain an active, interconnected, and informed lifestyle. No technical background is needed just bring your smartphone or tablet and your curiosity. Small class size ensures personal attention and plenty of time for questions. *The same course will be taught February 10 and 24.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Larry Deschaine will guide you to the practical world of Artificial Intelligence. As Team Lead for Data Science at the Savannah River National Laboratory, Dr. Deschaine brings over 40 years of real-world expertise in making complex technology accessible and practical for everyday life. Dr. Deschaine's expertise and approachable teaching style will ensure you walk away with valuable, immediately applicable skills. Join us for this unique opportunity to learn from a leading expert who understands how to make technology work for you.

Great Decisions

Meets: 8 Tuesdays
Date(s): Feb 17, 24, Mar 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, Apr 7
Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: 15
Cost: $25.00
Description: This 8-week group discussion course will address the following topics:
Session 1: America and the World: Trump 2.0 Foreign Policy
Session 2: Trump Tariffs and the Future of the World Economy
Session 3: U.S.-China Relations
Session 4: Ruptured Alliances and the Risk of Nuclear War
Session 5: Ukraine and the Future of Security
Session 6: Multilateral Institutions in a Changing World Order
Session 7: U.S. Engagement of Africa
Session 8: The Future of Human Rights and International Law
Instructor Biography: John Karas is a graduate of The University of Toledo and has taught at Harper College in Illinois. His lifelong interest in history led him to become a member of the 250 Committee preparing for and educating about the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.

Introduction to the Coroner's System

Meets: Wednesday
Date(s): Feb 18
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: This course will introduce attendees to the coroner system, a legal and investigative framework responsible for determining the cause and manner of deaths particularly those that are sudden, unexplained, or suspicious. Attendees will learn how coroners, who may be medical doctors, legal professionals, or laypersons depending on the jurisdiction, collaborate with law enforcement, forensic pathologists, and other agencies to conduct inquests, order autopsies, and issue death certificates. The coroner system plays a vital role in supporting public health, ensuring justice, and enhancing community safety.
Instructor Biography: Laura G. Kneece, MPA, F AMBDI, C-MDI, is the elected Coroner of Newberry County, South Carolina, in office since 2017. A certified medicolegal death investigator one of only ten in SC she brings extensive law enforcement and forensic experience from her prior roles in Lexington County. Kneece founded the Newberry County Coroner's Foundation to support education and community needs, and under her leadership, the Coroner's Office achieved rare national accreditation. She resides in Prosperity with her family and balances public service with personal interests like gardening, camping, and travel.

The French Connection

Meets: Wednesday
Date(s): Feb 18
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: The French Connection is about the 16th-century struggle of the French Huguenots to establish a settlement in the New World. The man who led that struggle was Captain Jean Ribaut. His story has all the elements of a blockbuster movie: politics, war, betrayal, adventure, murder, Indian raids, kidnappings, mutinies, and starvation. Join the Huguenots as they make their way to Paris Island, SC, and Jacksonville, FL. It is a story you have probably never heard, but one that needs to be told.
Instructor Biography: Beverly Eggert, retired Beaufort County English teacher, served as the featured presenter and program coordinator for the lecture series presented in partnership with the Beaufort History Museum and the Beaufort County Library, as well as lecturer and pro

Tech Talk: Password Managers

Meets: Thursday
Date(s): Feb 19
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $5.00
Description: A password manager is a secure app that manages your passwords for all your accounts. Many of the managers can be used across all your devices [computers, Apple and/or PC; phones, Apple and/or Android, etc.]. Instead of relying on memory or risky habits like using the same login everywhere, a password manager becomes your secure digital vault of strong passwords. In this CLL Tech Talk, we'll explain the basics of how a password manager works and why these apps are a must-have. We will discuss security and we'll provide a simple table comparing many of the most popular managers.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Russ Beckmeyer received his PhD from the University of Missouri. Dr. Beckmeyer has more than 50 years of applied computer technology experience: micro-computers, super-computers, networks, software, and computer security. After an extensive career at the Savannah River Site, he spent the last 5 years of his professional career as an engineering director for two different small nuclear reactors. Dr. Beckmeyer has been with the Center's Tech Section since 2018 and was named the 2021 Volunteer of the Year for the Tech Section.

Apple Watch

Meets: Thursday
Date(s): Feb 19
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $15.00
Description: Learn to use the basics of your Apple Watch. Your Watch can do some interesting things like calculate a trip, record a memo, take a picture through your iPhone, and get turn-by-turn haptics through Apple Maps. This course will cover choosing a watch face, opening watch apps, notifications and control center. Learn the dock, the Digital Crown, the flashlight and Siri. Learn how to enable Fall Detection a lifesaver. There will be a handout for you to take home. You must have your own Apple Watch and have it paired with your iPhone. A knowledge of basic iPhone fundamentals is expected.
Instructor Biography: Vicki Gibboney has a BS degree in Education. She taught elementary school. She has taught and coached for the Center's Tech Section for over 20 years.

How do I use OneDrive?

Meets: Monday
Date(s): Feb 23
Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $15.00
Description: OneDrive is one of Microsoft's most powerful yet often not well-understood computer technologies. OneDrive is a file hosting service based on the cloud storage model. The free service allows users to access the file over the internet from any computer or phone. Topics to be covered include: file access anywhere, free storage, no accidental deletes, extra security, and automatic backups.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Russ Beckmeyer received his PhD from the University of Missouri. Dr. Beckmeyer has more than 50 years of applied computer technology experience: micro-computers, super-computers, networks, software, and computer security. After an extensive career at the Savannah River Site, he spent the last 5 years of his professional career as an engineering director for two different small nuclear reactors. Dr. Beckmeyer has been with the Center's Tech Section since 2018.

Introduction to Equine Bodywork Modalities

Meets: 2 Mondays
Date(s): Feb 23, Mar 2
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $8.00
Description: Equine Bodywork can encompass many modalities, techniques, and approaches. Understanding what approaches are available can be beneficial in selecting a therapist for the individual. In this course, we will cover a variety of modalities, the benefits of bodywork, common dysfunction aided through bodywork, and some of the gadgets on the market today. The modalities discussed will include sports massage, structural integration, chiropractic, acupuncture, myofascial release, craniosacral, osteopathic technique, and energy work.
Instructor Biography: Caitlee Greene is a passionate gardener and learner. As a Georgia native, she was introduced to backyard gardening at a young age, and has developed an interest in native plants, rain gardening, and wildlife habitat creation during her time in Aiken. While managing an Aiken horse farm and becoming a certified Master Gardener, she developed further gardening and land management skills. With a passion for sharing knowledge, she now owns an equine bodywork and property consulting business, Greene Roots LLC, traveling the Southeast to help horses and landowners.

Smart Home Solutions for Smart Seniors

Meets: Monday
Date(s): Feb 23
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $15.00
Description: Are you intrigued by the idea of a smart home? Perhaps you are curious about what exactly a smart home entails. Whether you are interested in enhancing security, optimizing energy usage, or simply making daily life more convenient, our comprehensive course has you covered. You will learn what a smart home is and how it works. We will explore the most common smart home features, including voice assistants, smart lighting, security cameras, and more.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Russ Beckmeyer received his PhD from the University of Missouri. Dr. Beckmeyer has more than 50 years of applied computer technology experience: micro-computers, super-computers, networks, software, and computer security. After an extensive career at the Savannah River Site, he spent the last 5 years of his professional career as an engineering director for two different small nuclear reactors. Dr. Beckmeyer has been with the Center's Tech Section since 2018 and was named the 2021 Volunteer of the Year for the Tech Section.

Tech Talk: Family Histories

Meets: Tuesday
Date(s): Feb 24
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $5.00
Description: The Aiken Public Library has a new tool, the Ancestry Library Edition, to help you find your family history and create your own family tree. This overview will show you how to use it, and other resources that the library and the internet have for family history research.
Instructor Biography: Dennis Harkins was a teacher and technology specialist in schools in Pennsylvania for over 30 years. He was also an adjunct professor at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia. He was also a member of the Philadelphia Area Computer Society and has been wit

Applied Artificial Intelligence (Section C)

Meets: Tuesday
Date(s): Feb 24
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $15.00
Description: Discover how Artificial Intelligence can make your daily life easier in our engaging 2-hour workshop. We'll show you how to use ChatGPT and similar AI assistants to write emails and letters, plan travel, research health topics, understand and visualize information, write computer programs, and more. The workshop includes hands-on practice with popular AI applications. Perfect for adults who want to leverage technology to maintain an active, interconnected, and informed lifestyle. No technical background is needed — just bring your smartphone or tablet and your curiosity. Small class size ensures personal attention and plenty of time for questions. *The same course will be taught February 10 and 17.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Larry Deschaine will guide you to the practical world of Artificial Intelligence. As team Lead for Data Science in the Savannah River National Laboratory, Dr. Deschaine brings over 40 years of real-world expertise in making complex technology accessible and practical for everyday life. His expertise and approachable teaching style will ensure you walk away with valuable, immediately applicable skills. Join us for this unique opportunity to learn from a leading expert who understands how to make technology work for you.

Fire and our Forests: Fire-dependent Natural Communities in our Region

Meets: Wednesday
Date(s): Feb 25
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: Fire is as critical to most of our native ecosystems as rain is to a rainforest. Learn about the different natural communities in our area and how fire, as a natural disturbance, shapes them. Key habitats, as well as plant and animal species that occupy those habitats, will be discussed along with ways to restore and protect elements of this unique ecosystem.
Instructor Biography: Peter Kleinhenz is the Executive Director of Aiken Land Conservancy, a local nonprofit dedicated to protecting land in our region. Peter graduated from Miami University with degrees in zoology and mass communications, and received his Master of Science degree in environmental education from Southern Oregon University.

Fight Back Against Computer/Tech Scams

Meets: Wednesday
Date(s): Feb 25
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $15.00
Description: Participants will learn how to defend themselves against a growing spectrum of scams that are targeting individual users more than ever before. Anti-viruses, firewalls, and modern security tools are no match for the evolving landscape of sophisticated phishing campaigns and fraud attempts that target a wide variety of devices and services. It is the Human Link that is the most important link in the Cybersecurity Chain. And it is the Human Link that is the most vulnerable. Let's get educated and stop the hackers. They are becoming more sophisticated as they become richer. The average scam is between $500 and $2,500, but there are cases where the amounts scammed were tens of thousands of dollars with no hope of recovery. Law enforcement is overwhelmed and most of the time does not have the means or resources to investigate the hacks.
Instructor Biography: Gabriel Lemmaru has 20 years of hands-on experience in the computer and network security field. Gabriel has a Master of Science Degree in Information Security and Assurance. He is a Certified Ethical Hacker; Computer Hacking Forensics Investigator; a Cisc

Tech Talk: Using Alexa

Meets: Thursday
Date(s): Feb 26
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $5.00
Description: Amazon's adoption of Alexa, an artificial intelligence assistant, has changed the way we control and interface with our gadgets. With a click of a button, Alexa can tell you things, play music for you, set alarms, or even control your home appliances, just to mention a few. But what exactly is this futuristic AI assistant, Alexa, and how does it work? In this Tech Talk, we will present the basics of how Alexa works, present the most popular usage, and discuss your questions and experiences with this new device making life easier.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Russ Beckmeyer received his PhD from the University of Missouri. Dr. Beckmeyer has more than 50 years of applied computer technology experience: micro-computers, super-computers, networks, software, and computer security. After an extensive career at the Savannah River Site, he spent the last 5 years of his professional career as an engineering director for two different small nuclear reactors. Dr. Beckmeyer has been with the Center's Tech Section since 2018 and was named the 2021 Volunteer of the Year for the Tech Section.

Apple Help Lab (Section A)

Meets: Thursday
Date(s): Feb 26
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $5.00
Description: Your Questions Answered! Don't need a full course? Join our Apple Help session! This is a flexible Q&A format where you can get personalized assistance with any Apple product. Our Apple course instructors will be on hand to answer your questions. Feel free to drop in, get the help you need, and share experiences with fellow Apple users. No set presentations, just helpful answers.
Instructor Biography: Wayne Rickman has a master's degree in computer management and has been an instructor with the Center's Tech Section for over 20 years. He is a retired U. S. Navy (Nuclear Submarine) officer.

Brain and Body Fitness

Meets: 4 Fridays
Date(s): Feb 27, Mar 6, 13, 20
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $12.00
Description: Based on the science of neuroplasticity. Simultaneously improve mental and physical health. Stay functionally active by learning simple techniques that you can implement throughout your life. This fun and beneficial fitness program is practiced to upbeat music while seated in a chair and vigorously moving. Focuses on cognitive function, core muscles to support the spine, balance/fall prevention, joint mobility, breath, and more.
Instructor Biography: Carol Gerson is a Certified Ageless Grace Educator and graduate of U of MD in Business Administration. Lifelong, she has stayed active in many fitness modalities. Brain and Body Fitness by Ageless Grace became her passion 14 years ago. Educating students to remain functionally active and healthy gives her much gratification.

Stoker on Stoker

Meets: 4 Mondays
Date(s): Mar 2, 9, 16, 23
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $12.00
Description: Dacre Stoker's compelling and informative keynote presentation, Stoker on Stoker, the Mysteries Behind the Research and Writing of Dracula, weaves together the details of Dracula's history with Stoker family lore, and Bram Stoker's life in Dublin and London, then separates fact from popular fiction, revealing the truth about all things Stoker and Dracula. Stoker on Stoker has fascinated audiences around the world, exploring the issues behind the mysteries that have baffled Dracula scholars and fans since the book's publication in 1897. Illustrated with Dacre's collection of never-before-published and seldom-seen historic images.
Instructor Biography: Dacre Stoker is the great-grandnephew of Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, and the international and New York Times best-selling co-author of Dracula the Un-Dead (2009), and Dracul (2018). Dacre has consulted and appeared in recent film documentaries about vampires in literature and popular culture.

Windows Practical File Management

Meets: Monday
Date(s): Mar 2
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $15.00
Description: Think you know how to manage your computer files? Think again. Many Windows users struggle with organizing and protecting their data and that's where this course comes in. You'll learn practical, hands-on strategies for managing files and folders in Windows, how to safeguard your valuable data with smart organization techniques and a quick dive into OneDrive and cloud-based file storage. Whether you're a tech novice or just want to sharpen your skills, this course gives you the tools to take control of your digital workspace.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Russ Beckmeyer received his PhD from the University of Missouri. Dr. Beckmeyer has more than 50 years of applied computer technology experience: micro-computers, super-computers, networks, software, and computer security. After an extensive career at the Savannah River Site, he spent the last 5 years of his professional career as an engineering director for two different small nuclear reactors. Dr. Beckmeyer has been with the Center's Tech Section since 2018 and was named the 2021 Volunteer of the Year for the Tech Section.

Rain Gardening: Preventing Erosion With Beautifully Layered Gardens

Meets: Monday
Date(s): Mar 2
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: Rain Gardening is one of many solutions for stormwater management, involving beautiful gardens that can support wildlife, soil erosion, and filter rain water. Learn to see where water flows on land, what sites may benefit from these systems, and how to install them on your own property. We will discuss what rain gardens are, how to select location, materials, plants, and other installation tips. Other options for the management of runoff will also be discussed. Leave with more confidence in your ability to mitigate your stormwater impact.
Instructor Biography: Caitlee Greene is a passionate gardener and learner. As a Georgia native, she was introduced to backyard gardening at a young age, and has developed an interest in native plants, rain gardening, and wildlife habitat creation during her time in Aiken. While managing an Aiken horse farm and becoming a certified Master Gardener, she developed further gardening and land management skills. With a passion for sharing knowledge, she now owns an equine bodywork and property consulting business, Greene Roots LLC, traveling the Southeast to help horses and landowners.

Planning and Executing the War in the Pacific 1941-1945 (U.S. Response to December 7, 1941)

Meets: 2 Tuesdays
Date(s): Mar 3, 10
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $8.00
Description: Planning for the War with Japan began well before the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th 1941. The Japanese expansion and aggression in the Western Pacific were foreseeable early on. In response, America began developing "War Plan Orange" in the 1920s and 1930s to meet the foreseeable, if not, inevitable conflict. The subsequent detailed strategic plans set the groundwork for the ultimate defeat of the Japanese Empire in August 1945. The genius and the caliber of the American political, military, scientific, industrial and civilian leadership that rose to meet and defeat the aggressive Imperial Japanese challenge were truly remarkable.
Instructor Biography: Pete Murphy was born in Port Chester NY in November 1945. Graduated from Boston College in 1967. Enlisted in the USAF in 1967 as an Avionics Tech on the F106 Delta Dart. He was discharged in 1971 as SSgt. He subsequently worked with Bechtel Power Corp for 46 yrs. as a Construction Field Engineer, retiring as a Senior Supervising Field Engr. after 46 years in 2021. He worked on 13 major Nuclear and Fossil Power, Infrastructure and Decommissioning Projects.

Discovering the Mystery of Bulgarian Voices

Meets: 2 Tuesdays
Date(s): Mar 3, 10
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $8.00
Description: In 1987, the album Le Myst re des Voix Bulgares, an album of choral arrangements of Bulgarian folksongs, was released in the United States to critical acclaim. The second album won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album. This music has influenced Robert Plant and Bobby McFerrin and has been used in films and in television series such as Xena: Warrior Princess. However, audiences in the United States in 2025 are largely unfamiliar with the vast wealth of Bulgarian folk music, art music, and sacred music. Course participants will be introduced to a wide range of this beautiful music.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Matt Caine is the Director of Traditional Music at St. John's Methodist Church, Aiken. Both a Fulbright Scholar and a Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellow in Bulgarian Language and Culture of the United States Department of Education, his research is frequently cited by scholars in the US and Bulgaria.

Aiken's Aviation History

Meets: Tuesday
Date(s): Mar 3
Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: Aiken has an amazing aviation history. This course will enlighten people about the Wright Brothers flying team's first flight to Aiken that landed on the Whitney Polo Field. Their pilot stayed in the Hitchcock home and created Hitchcock's interest in aviation. Both Thomas Hitchcock and son Tommy flew during World War 1. Barnstormers were frequent visitors to Aiken after the war. B-25s used the Aiken Airport during WWII. The Winter Colony supported aviation in the 30s and 40s and planes were used to fly in polo ponies from Argentina. A slide presentation will show Aiken's aviation highlights.
Instructor Biography: Pete Peters has been the President of Aiken-Barnwell Genealogy and History Society for 30 years. He is the Cofounder of the Battle of Aiken and currently is the Tourism Supervisor for the City of Aiken.

Tech Talk: Quantum Computing

Meets: Tuesday
Date(s): Mar 3
Time: 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $5.00
Description: Quantum computing is poised to revolutionize industries from healthcare to cybersecurity, and South Carolina has an opportunity to position itself at the forefront of this technological shift. This Tech Talk will demystify quantum computing, exploring what makes it different from traditional computing and why it matters for our state's economic future. We'll examine how quantum technologies could impact South Carolina's key sectors, including aerospace, advanced manufacturing, biomedicine, and financial services, and discuss emerging quantum initiatives already taking root in the Southeast. The talk will address practical workforce development questions: What skills will be needed? How can educational institutions prepare students? What opportunities exist for career changers and lifelong learners?
Instructor Biography: Dr. Larry Deschaine will guide you to the practical world of Artificial Intelligence. As Team Lead for Data Science at the Savannah River National Laboratory, Dr. Deschaine brings over 40 years of real-world expertise in making complex technology accessible and practical for everyday life. Dr. Deschaine's expertise and approachable teaching style will ensure you walk away with valuable, immediately applicable skills. Join us for this unique opportunity to learn from a leading expert who understands how to make technology work for you.

Stories in Stone: Iconology and Burial Traditions Through the Ages

Meets: 4 Wednesdays
Date(s): Mar 4, 11, 18, 25
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $12.00
Description: Studying Iconology and Burial Traditions allows a glimpse into the past to see how people have viewed death and the afterlife. This is important because a society's perception of mortality is a reflection of how it interprets and values life.
Session 1: "Ancient Ancestors," studying the Neolithic era through the Roman Empire.
Session 2: "Medieval Mortality," reviewing the impact of Christianity on Medieval culture.
Session 3: "Colonial Cessation," addressing how the influence of Puritan ideals shaped the old world and a new nation.
Session 4: "Victorian Views," analyzing the Golden Age of Iconology and Burial Traditions.
Instructor Biography: Tonya A. Browder Guy graduated from North Augusta High School in 1988 and received a BA cum laude in History from the University of South Carolina at Aiken in 1992. She is currently the Director of the Old Edgefield District Genealogical Society library in Johnston, SC.

Pomp and Circumstance: Presidential Rhetoric and Address Genres

Meets: Wednesday
Date(s): Mar 4
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: This course will focus on established genres of presidential addresses and discuss the elements of such genres, such as inaugural address and war rhetoric.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Jason B. Munsell is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Communication and Emerging Media Department at USCA. He is a former president of the Southern States Communication Association as well as the Carolinas Communication Association. He is currently the Executive Director of the Carolinas Communication Association and an Endowed Chair in Humanities and has a PhD in Speech Communication from LSU.

Basic Beekeeping

Meets: 2 Wednesdays
Date(s): Mar 4, 11
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $8.00
Description: Bees are crucial pollinators, playing a vital role in the production of fruits, vegetables, and other crops. They are responsible for approximately one-third of our food supply, with honeybees alone supporting around $15 billion worth of agricultural crops in the U.S. each year. Come learn with us. This course will discuss key concepts of bees, beekeeping and pollinators for your garden.
Session 1 reviews basic beekeeping concepts, hive components, bee tasks within the hive, products produced by honeybees, and annual hive activities.
Session 2 discusses the type of plants that will attract pollinators to your garden year-round.
Instructor Biography: Hank Smalling is a Journeyman Beekeeper and a SC Master Gardener. He has kept bees for 15+ years, is a past president of the Aiken Beekeepers and currently coordinates and teaches their annual beginner beekeeping class.

Jacobites: Regaining the Throne

Meets: Thursday
Date(s): Mar 5
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: The Glorious Revolution of 1688 forced James II from the throne. There were attempts to regain it for himself and his descendants through his son, James. The movement derived its name from the Latin form of James, Jacobus. This course will examine the attempts to restore the Stuarts for a second time in 1690, 1715, 1719, and 1745. The latter came the closest but was marred by external factors and internal dissension. We will examine reasons why people became/remained Jacobites. This is an updated version of the course presented in the fall 2025 semester.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Arthur Turfa holds a master's in History from Binghamton University. A Retired Reservist with Veteran Status, he has taught military history classes and taught history as an adjunct at several postsecondary institutions in Pennsylvania. Through his other studies and courses, he is uniquely equipped to address the issues surrounding the 1745 Rising and Jacobinism.

Faith, Funerals and Family Systems

Meets: 4 Thursdays
Date(s): Mar 5, 12, 19, 26
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $12.00
Description: This will be a course that uses Family Systems Theory to write a loved one's eulogy or plan a funeral, aka Celebration of Life. This course will address the theological basis for understanding how to grieve well by beginning with giving voice to the deceased, i.e., Eschatology and the Communion of the Saints. The course objective will offer an opportunity to give one's own eulogy or another's as a gift to a person's family.
Instructor Biography: Rev. Dr. Tim McClendon is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of South Carolina, Magna Cum Laude; Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Boston, Magna Cum Laude; and a D.Min. graduate and former instructor at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta. He recently retired after 12 years as Senior Pastor of St. John's Methodist, Aiken and has served as a pastor across SC for 49 years.

Advanced Computer/Tech Scams and Challenges

Meets: Thursday
Date(s): Mar 5
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: 40
Cost: $15.00
Description: This course is designed for those who want to learn more about modern scams that target the digital frontier of the 21st Century. Intermediate knowledge of computers and technology is desired for participants in this course, but it's not required. No matter how advanced or novice you are with technology, you will have a lot to learn from this course. Knowledge is power when it comes to technology and keeping your digital assets safe online. The next few years will bring more technology into our lives and there will be no shortage of advanced scams that target users. Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be better leveraged by hackers and scammers rather than the security tools developed to keep us safe. Learn how to protect yourself and rest better at night.
Instructor Biography: Gabriel Lemmaru has 20 years of hands-on experience in the computer and network security field. Gabriel has a Master of Science Degree in Information Security and Assurance. He is a Certified Ethical Hacker; Computer Hacking Forensics Investigator; a Cisc

The Irish Travellers of Murphy Village

Meets: 4 Mondays
Date(s): Mar 9, 16, 23, 30
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $12.00
Description: Who are the Irish Travellers living in Murphy Village? The purpose of this course is to explore the history and culture of a community that lives "down the street" from us but remains a mystery. In four course sessions, you will learn about the cultural implications of the word "Gypsy," the history of the Irish Travellers in Ireland, and how the Irish Travellers came to settle the historic "camps" in the United States where they live today. The course will delve into the significance of Aiken, North Augusta, and other local places to the Murphy Village community. You will learn about the cultural aspects of Irish Travellers, such as religion, superstition, and kinship. Finally, we will examine how media sources and rumors impact the relationship between the Irish Travellers and the mainstream community.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Zara Browne is an anthropologist who dedicated her doctoral research to the Irish Traveller community of Murphy Village in North Augusta, SC. She specializes in "nomadic" and separatist communities. Zara's work in Murphy Village has been featured in multiple news sources, such as The Post and Courier and Augusta Today.

More Snippets From a Life Thoroughly Enjoyed

Meets: 3 Mondays
Date(s): Mar 9, 16, 23
Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $10.00
Description: Last year, Ken taught a course: Snippets from a Life Thoroughly Enjoyed. This new course includes additional Snippets, such as: Scandal of Air Force Colonels and a Cabinet Officer Who Were Fired, Crashing Seven Computers at the Pentagon, the Parachutes Are Not Opening, Stupidest Things Ever Done by the Government, Remarkable Achievements of Those Written-Off by Most People, and Unsung Heroes.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Kenneth Stephens was educated at Georgia Tech and MIT. During the Reagan Administration, he managed part of "Star Wars" that formed the basis for the Space Force. He narrated 23 audio textbooks for blind or dyslexic students, sailed large sailboats with Tom Clancy and Ted Turner, sang on a cruise ship, knows Las Vegas magicians, and plays several musical instruments. Ken served as the Director of Engineering Services for the Savannah River Site and continues to consult for the government.

Speaking With Confidence

Meets: 3 Mondays
Date(s): Mar 9, 16, 23
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $10.00
Description: This course will help you become a confident and effective public speaker. You'll learn techniques that help calm speaking fears, manage an audience, understand body language, and vocal usage to engage your audience and leave them looking forward to your next speech.
Instructor Biography: Marty Bailey has lived in Aiken for sixteen years; twelve of which she's owned Tailored Tours of Aiken, offering private tours of historic Aiken. She has experience teaching high school, as well as at Augusta Tech and Sandersville Technical College in Georgia. She loves domestic travel and learning.

Facebook Security

Meets: 2 Tuesdays
Date(s): Mar 10, 17
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $18.00
Description: Get your Facebook questions answered while reviewing your privacy settings. This two-session course includes updating your Facebook account and privacy settings. A Facebook account is required to take this course. Participants will need their Facebook user ID and passwords since they will be using their own FB page in class on classroom computers.
Instructor Biography: Wayne Rickman has a master's degree in computer management and has been an instructor with the Center's Tech Section for over 20 years. He is a retired U. S. Navy (Nuclear Submarine) officer.

The Masters is my Life

Meets: Wednesday
Date(s): Mar 11
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: Phil Wahl shares captivating memories of his childhood at Augusta National Golf Club, where his father, Philip Russell Wahl Sr., served as General Manager from 1961 to 1978 after being hired at age 26 by Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts. From running clubhouse errands during the Masters to meeting golf legends, a U.S. President, and First Lady, Phil offers a rare behind-the-scenes view of golf history. His story turns poignant with the sudden loss of his father in 1978 an unforgettable journey of tradition, triumph, and personal loss.
Instructor Biography: Phil Wahl, President of Security Federal Bank, has 39 years of banking experience in Augusta, Georgia. A 1987 graduate of Augusta University's Hull College of Business, he has held leadership roles across retail, private, consumer, and business banking. Phil is the immediate past Chair of Destination Augusta, Chair of the CSRA TIA Citizens Review Panel, and serves as an Emeritus Board Member of North Augusta Forward. His extensive civic service includes leading the Augusta Metro Chamber, Augusta CVB, and Augusta University Foundation.

Tobacco Road

Meets: 2 Wednesdays
Date(s): Mar 11, 18
Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $8.00
Description: Tobacco Road looks at the history of tobacco, its usage, its cultivation and its economic impact, including helping to finance America's Revolutionary War. Of course no history of tobacco can be studied without taking a look at Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Old Salem and RJ Reynolds' impact on the tobacco industry.
Instructor Biography: John Karas is a graduate of The University of Toledo and has taught at Harper College in Illinois. His lifelong interest in history led him to become a member of the 250 Committee preparing and educating about the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of I

Loyalists in the American Revolution

Meets: Thursday
Date(s): Mar 12
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: Loyalist Colonials are the "dirty little secret" of the American Revolution. Estimates vary, but around 25% of the White population of the Colonies remained loyal to Britain. Around 19,000 carried arms. The number of Patriot forces was larger, with around 48,000 serving at any given time. We will examine the reasons why some Americans remained loyal to the Crown and identify regions that were strongly Loyalist. In addition, we will look at what groups tended to be loyal to Britain, and how Loyalists sought support from enslaved Blacks and allied with Native American groups. A few of the prominent Loyalists will be mentioned, with special attention being paid to South Carolina and the other Southern colonies.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Arthur Turfa holds an MA in history from Binghamton University. A retired Lieutenant Colonel in the USAR, he has long been fascinated with US colonial history in the 18th Century. As an adjunct instructor, he has around 40 courses at two- and four-year schools in PA and SC, in history, English, religion, and German.

Using the iPhone/iPad Camera

Meets: Monday, Friday
Date(s): Mar 12, 19
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $18.00
Description: In this course participants will learn how to make the most of the camera and photo app on their iPhone and iPad, learn to access and use the various camera controls and settings for photos and video and then how to view them. You will also learn how to use the photo app to edit photos or videos. Participants must bring their own device to the class along with their Apple ID and Password. Knowledge of iPad or iPhone is required.
Instructor Biography: Bob Hood holds a BA degree from Franklin & Marshall College and completed the Executive MBA program at the University of Pittsburgh. He has designed and taught computer network courses and also ran his own technology consulting practice where he designed, installed, and managed computer networks, infrastructure and training for small business and non-profit clients. He has been with the Center's Tech Section for six years.

Demystifying Estate and Gift Tax

Meets: 3 Thursdays
Date(s): Mar 12, 19, 26
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $10.00
Description: This course takes a closer look at some of the most common myths about taxes and explains the history and purpose behind the federal gift and estate tax system. We'll break down how these taxes work in plain language when they apply, what forms may be required, and recent changes in the law. You'll also learn simple, practical strategies to help reduce the tax impact on you and your family when transferring wealth or planning your estate.
Instructor Biography: Karl G. Lutterloh is an attorney with LawyerLisa. Prior to joining LawyerLisa, Karl was President and Senior Trust Officer for a bank's trust division. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law, and the University of Florida where he obtained his LL.M in Taxation.

Designed for Disease: The Impact of our Food and Activity Environments

Meets: 2 Mondays
Date(s): Mar 16, 23
Time: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $8.00
Description: The term "toxic environment" was popularized years ago to refer to conditions that promote the consumption of high-calorie, unhealthy food and discourage being physically active. This combination is thought to be a major factor that contributes to obesity and other chronic diseases. In two parts, this course will focus on our toxic food and activity environment, how it affects our health, and what we can do to change it.
Instructor Biography: Brian Parr, PhD, FACSM, is a Professor in the Department of Exercise and Sports Science at the University of South Carolina Aiken. Dr. Parr is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and is an ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist.

Advanced Planning of Your Final Funeral Wishes

Meets: 3 Tuesdays
Date(s): Mar 17, 24, 31
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $10.00
Description: Not everyone likes to plan ahead, but pre-planning your funeral arrangements not only gives you peace of mind about your final wishes being honored but also alleviates some of the stress and burden your loved ones are going through as they experience the grief associated with the loss. This course will explore the idea of preplanning these wishes while also answering the wide array of questions associated with death.
Instructor Biography: Graham Hall is a licensed funeral director/embalmer and the President of Shellhouse Funeral Home & Shellhouse-Rivers Funeral Home here in Aiken. He has been serving in the funeral industry for over 15 years. Graham is a lifelong Aiken resident and has degrees from Clemson University and Piedmont Mortuary College.

Sir Karl Jenkins' Stabat Mater: Experience the Masterpiece

Meets: 3 Tuesdays
Date(s): Mar 17, 24, 31
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $10.00
Description: Fresh off of a performance in Carnegie Hall in January 2026, the Chancel Choir and Orchestra of St. John's Methodist Church, Aiken, will present Sir Karl Jenkins' Stabat Mater on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at 7:00 pm. Come learn about this riveting, visceral musical masterpiece that views the crucifixion of Jesus through the eyes of his mother, Mary, and then plan on attending the free performance. Jenkins' breakthrough came with the song Adiemus, which received worldwide play and was on the 1997 re-release of the album Pure Moods. His most well-known compositions include Palladio, The Armed Man, and Stabat Mater.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Matt Caine is Director of Traditional Music at St. John's Methodist Church, Aiken. Frequently in demand as a guest conductor, he is also a perennial presenter at national, regional, and state conferences of the American Choral Directors Association.

Dining Out In Aiken: The Highs and Lows

Meets: 2 Tuesdays
Date(s): Mar 17, 24
Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $8.00
Description: In this course we will take a restaurant-by-restaurant look at Aiken's restaurant scene. Restaurants that are romantic, fashionable, practical, boring, exciting, delicious, and horrible. What's new, what's great, what's needed. Highlights and low points of the last 10 years. What is currently trendy? What can we look forward to? (This same course was previously offered in the fall semester of 2025.)
Instructor Biography: Michael Stern has written over 40 books about food & popular culture. Michael and his former wife, Jane Stern, wrote for Gourmet Magazine for 17 years. Their monthly column won three James Beard journalism awards. From 2021 to 2024, Michael wrote a weekly restaurant review, "Taste of the Town," for The Aiken Standard.

Prepping for an Emergency

Meets: 3 Wednesdays
Date(s): Mar 18, 25, Apr 1
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $10.00
Description: Learn to prepare yourself and your family with items you may need in an emergency or evacuation. You'll learn about items that can turn basic survival into an easier and less stressful time and will allow you to survive in relative comfort in your home or an evacuation site. You'll also learn how to build your own first aid kit that could help you help yourself or a loved one before a first responder can arrive on the scene.
Instructor Biography: Marty Bailey has lived in Aiken for sixteen years; twelve of which she's owned Tailored Tours of Aiken, and also a member of a local volunteer fire department. Growing up on the Texas Gulf Coast and as a volunteer firefighter, she's learned and enjoys sharing her knowledge of emergency preparation.

Henry David Thoreau

Meets: 4 Wednesdays
Date(s): Mar 18, 25, Apr 1, 8
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $12.00
Description: Henry David Thoreau is best known for his book Walden and his essay Civil Disobedience, which advocate for a simple life, living with nature, and nonviolent resistance against unjust government policies. A central figure in the Transcendentalist movement, he lived on Walden Pond to demonstrate these ideas. He was not a hermit. He wanted to live a good life, but a simple life. Thoreau became a pioneer of the environmental movement. He was a major influence on figures like Martin Luther King, Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Leo Tolstoy, and many others. His written words continue to influence new generations.
Instructor Biography: Thomas Brandner worked as a school psychologist for 40 years for the Aiken County School District. At night for ten years, he taught adults high school biology, gardening, psychology, and sociology classes. For thirty years, he taught nights at Limestone College and Aiken Technical College. He was a U.S. Army captain.

Saratoga - Pivotal Battle

Meets: Thursday
Date(s): Mar 19
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: What resulted in the Battle of Saratoga actually was part of a British plan to separate New England from the other colonies by solidifying control of New York. On paper, it looked good, but things went wrong. The Patriot victory convinced France to support Independence.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Arthur Turfa has an M.A. in History and is a Retired Army Reservist with Veteran Status. He taught for nearly 30 years on the secondary and post-secondary levels.

Apple Macbooks and Macs

Meets: 3 Tuesdays
Date(s): Mar 24, 31, Apr 7
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $20.00
Description: Moving from a Microsoft Windows computer to an Apple MacBook laptop or Apple iMac computer can be tricky. This course is designed to help students get familiar with the many features available on Apple computers. An introduction to Pages, Apple's answer to Microsoft's Word, is included. For those who do not have an Apple laptop computer, the Tech Center has four Apple iMac computers that are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants are encouraged to bring their own Apple MacBook laptops. A flash drive is required for this course.
Instructor Biography: Wayne Rickman has a master's degree in computer management and has been an instructor with the Center's Tech Section for over 20 years. He is a retired U. S. Navy (Nuclear Submarine) officer. Darrell Pluff has a bachelor's degree and post-graduate work from San Diego State University for teaching certification. He is a retired business education instructor who has taught at the high school and college level in the United States and Australia. He has been with the Center's Technology Section for over nine years.

The Fall of Eagles

Meets: 4 Wednesdays
Date(s): Mar 25, Apr 1, 8, 15
Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $12.00
Description: World War I was to be The War that Ended All Wars, but became The War that Never Ended. This course will discuss how the war destroyed four great empires (Russian, German, Austrian and Turkish) and left three more (British, French and Italian) on the brink of collapse. The armistice that went into effect on November 11, 1918, stopped the fighting for then. However, subsequent treaties aimed at establishing lasting peace remade the map of both Europe and the Near East, set the stage for World War II, and led to chaos and conflict that continues to this day.
Instructor Biography: Joseph Lyons is a native of Biloxi, MS, and holds a BS in Electrical Engineering and a BS in Accounting. He also earned an MS in Management, and a master's and a doctorate of Business Administration. His work experience includes service with Ingalls Shipbuilding, Bausch & Lomb, the Air Force Communications Command, and 30 years with the DOE-Savannah River. He has been married 53 years to Mary Elaine, and has three grown children and three grandsons.

Hazardous Weather That Can Impact the CSRA

Meets: Thursday
Date(s): Mar 26
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: From hurricanes to ice storms, our area has seen many high-impact weather events over the last decade. This course will highlight different weather hazards that can impact the Central Savannah River Area throughout the year and how to prepare for them.
Instructor Biography: Riley Hale is the Chief Meteorologist for News 12 26, where he has dedicated nearly a decade to keeping the CSRA safe during severe weather. His passion for meteorology has earned him and his team multiple accolades, including two "Best Team Weather Coverage" awards from the Georgia Association of Broadcasters and an Emmy for "Outstanding Weathercast." Outside of his professional life, Riley cherishes his family time with his wife Emily, whom he has been married to for six years, and their beloved two-year-old daughter, Ellie.

FDR: Selected Days in the Life of President Franklin Roosevelt

Meets: 2 Thursdays
Date(s): Mar 26, Apr 2
Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $8.00
Description: The FDR Presidential Library has constructed an internet website showing key daily appointments, and other events, during days when President Roosevelt was in Washington, DC, (and a few days when he was "on the road" at other locations). This course examines several of those "desk diary pages." The course focuses on certain historic dates (such as December 7, 1941); meetings with prominent people, including (future president) Lyndon Johnson, Crown Princess Martha of Norway, actor Melvyn Douglas, and (probably) Aiken resident Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd, and mysterious, almost-daily visits to a White House "Doctor's Office."
Instructor Biography: Carl Fields is a retired Westinghouse and Savannah River Site engineer who has lived in Aiken since 1990. He has been a member of the CLL and its predecessor organization since around 2005 and taught five previous CLL courses, including a 2024 course describing all US presidential libraries.

Apple Help Lab (Section B)

Meets: Thursday
Date(s): Mar 26
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $5.00
Description: Your Questions Answered! Don't need a full course? Join our Apple Help session! This is a flexible Q&A format where you can get personalized assistance with any Apple product. Our Apple course instructors will be on hand to answer your questions. Feel free to drop in, get the help you need, and share experiences with fellow Apple users. No set presentations, just helpful answers.
Instructor Biography: Wayne Rickman has a master's degree in computer management and has been an instructor with the Center's Tech Section for over 20 years. He is a retired U. S. Navy (Nuclear Submarine) officer.

When Kidneys go Awry: An Introduction to Health, Disease, Failure, Transplant and Recovery

Meets: 3 Fridays
Date(s): Mar 27, Apr 3, 10
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $10.00
Description: Almost 37 million Americans are living with kidney disease, and more than 90,000 are on the national transplant waiting list. Anyone can get kidney disease, but people with certain health conditions have a higher risk. This course will discuss kidney health, risk factors, disease, and treatment options (including transplant).
Session 1: All About the Kidneys: This session will discuss the location of the kidneys, their functions, the consequences of kidney damage, the causes of kidney damage, and the effects of kidney failure.
Session 2: Let's Talk Transplant: In this session, we will explore dialysis and the transplant process, including evaluation, waitlisting, finding a donor match, receiving the call, undergoing surgery, and life after transplant.
Session 3: Share The Story: We will share a few transplant stories, learn about different donor and transplant organizations and resources, and share tips for maintaining kidney health.
Instructor Biography: Susan Steinbis is a Registered Nurse with a background in critical care and a specialty in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Katie Dixon, MBA, MHA, is a 3-year kidney-pancreas recipient and a mentor, volunteer, and advocate for national and state transplant and donor awareness organizations.

Introduction to Meditation

Meets: 2 Mondays
Date(s): Mar 30, Apr 6
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: 15
Cost: $8.00
Description: Meditation is known to decrease anxiety and stress and to lower blood pressure. In this course we will practice breathing exercises for stress and anxiety reduction and engage in a meditation session.
Instructor Biography: Sharon Preston believes meditation is a time to quiet the mind. This provides one with a sense of calm throughout the day. She has been leading guided meditation for several years.

Photographic Safari in Tanzania, Africa

Meets: Monday
Date(s): Mar 30
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:15 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: Join us on this travelogue, where you will experience Tanzania, Africa, as you follow a 12-day photographic safari where some of the most interesting creatures inhabit the earth. This adventure was with a small group that traveled with Overseas Adventure Travel. This included camping in the Serengeti for 4 days in tents, with an experience that none of us were expecting! Three guides, each from a different tribe, provided a most fascinating and informative experience. The safari took place during the month of March, and at that time, we were most lucky to have witnessed a wonderful part of the migration. We were told by the guides that even they experienced things they had never experienced before.
Instructor Biography: Christine Kupcha is a retired Junior HS/Middle school teacher originally from NJ who retired to Aiken in 2006 with her husband. They have always loved traveling the world and sharing their stories and experiences with others as well as hearing about the travel adventures of others.

Postcards and What They Tell Us About U.S. and Aiken Society 1900-1930

Meets: 2 Tuesdays
Date(s): Mar 31, Apr 7
Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $8.00
Description: The postcard has been a staple of pop American culture for more than a century. Close to a billion cards and their messages were saved in collections between 1900 and 1930; these give a fascinating glimpse into the look, the feel, and the culture of the time.
Session 1 will be a historical sketch of the development of postcards since 1870.
Session 2 will focus on Aiken postcards and their senders' messages from the Winter Colony era, and how Aiken was experienced by middle-class vacationers.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Walt Kubilius has worked as a geologist in Alaska, New Mexico, Arkansas, and Nova Scotia, before coming to Aiken in 1992. He is retired from SRS, where he specialized in radiochemistry and hydrology. He has been collecting postcards of South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and New Mexico for thirty years.

The American Revolution in the CSRA

Meets: 4 Wednesdays
Date(s): Apr 1, 8, 15, 22
Time: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $12.00
Description: Explore the American Revolution's dramatic impact on the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) in this engaging four-part lecture series. Delve into the Ninety-Six District's pivotal role, from the 1775 Fort Charlotte Raid to the brutal Cherokee War of 1776 and the 1781 sieges of Ninety Six and Augusta. Learn about key figures like Andrew Pickens, Thomas Brown, and George Galphin, and the Cherokees' fight for sovereignty amidst Loyalist-Patriot tensions. Discover how land cessions, guerrilla warfare, and civil conflict shaped the CSRA, with insights from historical sites and primary sources.
Instructor Biography: Billy Benton is a passionate foxhunter with the Aiken Foxhounds, an Aqua Fitness Instructor, and a respected History Lecturer for USCA Lifelong Learning. He's a longtime Edgefield Historical Society member and former president, and previously led the Aiken Opera Society, demonstrating a commitment to community and lifelong education.

Memories of Growing up in Aiken

Meets: 2 Thursdays
Date(s): Apr 2, 9
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $8.00
Description: In 2011, Allen published a book titled Memories of Growing Up and Living in Aiken, SC. This book was based on memories obtained from interviews with older Aikenites, many of whom have since passed away. This course will discuss some of the book's highlights and interesting facts.
Instructor Biography: Allen Riddick is an Aiken native who graduated from Clemson University in 1978 and later received a Master's Degree from St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida. He has been the Aiken County Historical Society president since 1999 and has written three lo

2000 Years of Building Hungary From the Roman Empire to the Present

Meets: 3 Thursdays
Date(s): Apr 2, 9, 16
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $10.00
Description: This course looks at the architecture of Hungary through historic times from the Roman Province, Medieval times, Turkish occupation, Austro-Hungarian Empire, to the present day through the lens of various architectural styles: Baroque, Classicism, Renaissance, Eclectic Architecture at the turn of the century, and present day. Special focus will be placed on Budapest and the surrounding areas.
Instructor Biography: Ilona Schmidt is a native of Hungary who taught Russian and English in her native land. She has thirty years of teaching experience in primary and secondary schools, and has taught adults inboth Hungary and the U.S. She moved to the U.S. in 1997 and became an American citizen in 2012.

Using iCloud with iPhone/iPad

Meets: Thursday
Date(s): Apr 2
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 238F
Class Size Limit: 22
Cost: $15.00
Description: Having trouble making sense of the iCloud? In this course participants will investigate synching their iPad/iPhone to other devices and backing up their devices using iCloud for photo-management, as well as taking a look at other non-Apple cloud storage choices. Participants must bring their devices and have their Apple ID and Apple password with them. *Basic knowledge of using an iPhone or iPad is a prerequisite.
Instructor Biography: Bob Hood holds a BA degree from Franklin & Marshall College and completed the Executive MBA program at the University of Pittsburgh. He has designed and taught computer network courses and also ran his own technology consulting practice where he designed,

The Fowl and Grotesque Life of Flannery O'Connor

Meets: Thursday
Date(s): Apr 2
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: Widely considered one of America's greatest writers, O'Connor once said, "When I was six I had a chicken that walked backward and was in the Pathé News. I was in it too with the chicken. I was just there to assist the chicken but it was the high point of my life. Everything since has been an anticlimax." In this course, we'll talk about her work, her anticlimactic life, and her affinity for weird birds.
Instructor Biography: Brandy Horne is the head of instruction/reference at the Gregg-Graniteville Library. Prior to coming to USCA in 2012, Horne had been in Milledgeville, GA, attending and later working at Georgia College, formerly the Georgia State College for Women, Flannery O'Connor's alma mater. Steeped in all things Flannery, Horne became a devout fan and is happy to have the opportunity to share the joy.

Preserving Family Heirlooms

Meets: 2 Fridays
Date(s): Apr 3, 10
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $8.00
Description: It is often said, "My kids will just get a giant dumpster and throw everything away when I'm gone." This attitude stems from the fact that family collections are frequently disorganized and not preserved for the next generation. But what if these treasured items were organized and preserved perhaps even digitized? Would families be more inclined to keep them for future generations? In this course I will share with you items you may never have seen at the museum. Interested in donating to the museum? We will cover how to do that. This course will also aim to teach participants how to organize, care for, and preserve family photographs, documents, bibles and the like for generations to come.
Instructor Biography: Melanie Sigman attended Tusculum University and earned her bachelor's degree in Museum Studies. She then went on to earn her master's in History at the University of West Georgia and her master's in Library Science from the University of Alabama. Formerly the Conservation Archivist for the S.C. Department of Archives and History, she joined the staff of the Aiken County Historical Museum as their Collections Manager in November of 2023.

Dr. Seuss: His Stories and Life

Meets: 4 Mondays
Date(s): Apr 6, 13, 20, 27
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $12.00
Description: Theodor Seuss Geisel (1904 to 1991) was an American children's author, illustrator, animator, and cartoonist. He is known for his work writing and illustrating more than 60 books under the pen name Dr. Seuss. He wanted to be known as a great artist. He failed. Six hundred million copies of his books being sold did not help. Some of his best-known stories have a moral. In class, a play using a Seuss story, with the help of attendees, will be acted out. Copies of his 83 stories will be available to view. His best stories will be read and discussed in class.
Instructor Biography: Thomas Brandner has put on shows at a variety of places with volunteers using the Dr. Seuss story, Sneetches on the Beaches, to teach about discrimination. This includes summer programs for children in SC libraries. Several Dr Seuss stories have limited vocabulary to help teach young children to learn to read.

The Roaring 20s: America in the 1920s

Meets: 4 Tuesdays
Date(s): Apr 7, 14, 21, 28
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $12.00
Description: The decade following WWI was a time of great prosperity for the United States. This four-part course will cover the causes of prosperity as well as the sudden collapse by the end of the decade. Cultural movements in art, music, dance and dress (typified by the flappers) will be covered along with the diplomacy of isolationism, Prohibition and gangsters, military deployments and technological achievements.
Instructor Biography: Robert Anzuoni is a veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division. He received his BA in American Studies from Stonehill College and his MA in History and Archives from UMass. He taught history for over thirty years including at USCA, USCA CLL, and ATC, and served as an Army Museum Director for thirty years.

Researching Your Family History With familysearch.org

Meets: 4 Thursdays
Date(s): Apr 9, 16, 23, 30
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: 20
Cost: $12.00
Description: Containing information about more than 11.5 billion people, familysearch.org has the largest collection of family history information in the world. This system is free to the public and offers free access from any computer connected to the Internet. Sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, familysearch.org has over 150 million users. The data in familysearch.org is stored in 5 separate data centers across the country to ensure safety of the data. This course will teach how to build a login, add your immediate family history, and research your ancestors. New records are constantly digitized and indexed so that computers can read them. About 1 million records a day are indexed. Participants should bring a fully charged laptop computer to each class and have an email address to validate their new familysearch.org account. Tablets and cell phones don't work well.
Instructor Biography: Brent Ruggles is a volunteer at the Center for African American History, Art, and Culture Genealogy Lab. He has been working with familysearch.org for a number of years and has specialized in helping others research their family tree with familysearch.org.

Exploring Local History: Redcliffe Plantation

Meets: 4 Thursdays
Date(s): Apr 9, 16, 23, 30 (4/30 is field trip)
Time: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM; 4/30: 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144; 4/30: 181 Redcliffe Rd., Beech Island, SC
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $12.00
Description: Over the course of three sessions and one site field trip, we will explore local history through the lens of Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site. Topics will include antebellum history through the Great Migration with a strong focus on primary source documents, personal stories of those who lived at Redcliffe, and an exploration of the items and buildings left behind.
Instructor Biography: Ashley Rust is the Park Manager at Redcliffe. She has an MA in History from Arizona State University and a BA in History from Sweet Briar College. She has been working at museums, art galleries, and historic sites for fifteen years.

Martha Schofield (1839-1916) Aiken's Quaker Activist

Meets: Monday
Date(s): Apr 13
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: This course will focus on the book Martha Schofield and the Re-education of the South 1839-1916 by Katherine Smedley, the scholar who cataloged the six boxes of Martha's papers her family donated to the Friends Historical Library in 1980. Martha Schofield, educator, reformer, activist, came to SC in 1865 to teach freedmen on St. Helena. She moved to Aiken in 1868 and founded what became the Schofield Normal and Industrial School which continued after her death in 1916 until 1952 when the high school was absorbed into the public school system.
Instructor Biography: Sally Farris is a retired librarian, history buff and avid reader. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania (BA English), University of Delaware (MA History) and University of SC (MLS Library and Information Sciences). She has lived in Aiken since 1977.

Meet Eulalie Salley

Meets: Monday
Date(s): Apr 13
Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: Come and "Meet" Eulalie Salley (1883-1975), first female realtor in South Carolina, realtor for Aiken's Winter Colony, and Aiken's premier suffragist. She will definitely convert you to the cause of women's suffrage.
Instructor Biography: Susan Gray was a secondary history educator for forty-four years in New York and Maryland with a BA and an MA in History. She has served as a docent at the Aiken County Historical Museum for twelve years.

Why is my Head Spinning?

Meets: Tuesday
Date(s): Apr 14
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: Ever feel like your world is spinning and you are off-balance. Does the feeling last for a few seconds or maybe a few hours? What is causing this and what do you do about it? Attend this course to learn about Vertigo: what is it, why does it occur and what you can do about it.
Instructor Biography: Susan Steinbis is a Registered Nurse with a background in critical care and a specialty in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Paris to Lyon and a River Cruise Down the Rhone

Meets: 2 Tuesdays
Date(s): Apr 14, 21
Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $8.00
Description: Who isn't enchanted by France with historic Paris, impressive scenery and mouth-watering cuisine? Take a trip around the French capital, then travel by high-speed train to Lyon. From there we head to the French countryside, following the Rhone River south through Provence. Stops include Tournon, Avignon and Arles before the final destination of Toulouse.
Instructor Biography: Jeff Wallace is a retired editor of the Aiken Standard. He worked for more than 30 years on the staff of the newspaper and has been an adjunct faculty member at USCA for more than a quarter of a century. He has lived in Aiken for more than 70 years and enjoys family and traveling with his wife.

Plant Vogtle Tour 1 - Section A

Meets: Wednesday
Date(s): Apr 15
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Plant Vogtle (directions will be provided)
Class Size Limit: 25
Cost: $5.00
Description: The tour will include a 'Nuclear 101' overview and discussion, and a driving tour of the plant site with one stop at the cooling towers. A tour of a control simulator may be included if time permits. Attendees must be at the meeting location by 8:30 am. Prior to the tour date, a map will be sent to all attendees who have registered for the tour. The map will show how to reach the plant and where the meeting location will be. The tour is limited to 25 attendees, which is the capacity of the plant bus.
Instructor Biography: Joel A. Leopard, Senior Communications Coordinator at Plant Vogtle, will conduct a tour of the plant.

Writing the Declaration of Independence

Meets: 3 Wednesdays
Date(s): Apr 15, 22, 29
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $10.00
Description: On July 4, 2026, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence. But what went into the decision to "Declare" and how did it get written? We will look at that decision, as well as the Continental Congress and its role in making this decision. We will also discuss Jefferson's role in the Declaration's writing and the important events of 1776.
Instructor Biography: John Karas is a graduate of The University of Toledo and has taught at Harper College in Illinois. His lifelong interest in history led him to become a member of the 250 Committee preparing and educating about the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of I

Plant Vogtle Tour 2 - Section B

Meets: Wednesday
Date(s): Apr 15
Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: Plant Vogtle (directions will be provided)
Class Size Limit: 25
Cost: $5.00
Description: The tour will include a 'Nuclear 101' overview and discussion, and a driving tour of the plant site with one stop at the cooling towers. A tour of a control simulator may be included if time permits. Attendees must be at the meeting location by 8:30 am. Prior to the tour date, a map will be sent to all attendees who have registered for the tour. The map will show how to reach the plant and where the meeting location will be. The tour is limited to 25 attendees, which is the capacity of the plant bus.
Instructor Biography: Joel A. Leopard, Senior Communications Coordinator at Plant Vogtle, will conduct a tour of the plant.

SC Secession From a Scottish Viewpoint, Cannon Talk of the Civil War, Deep Dive on the H.L. Hunley

Meets: 3 Wednesdays
Date(s): Apr 15, 22, 29
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $10.00
Description: A deeper inroad to a previous lecture on South Carolina and the American Civil War. The focus will center on the Scottish influence on the war, followed by artillery of the time, concluding with an up-to-date perspective of the Submarine Hunley out of Charleston, SC.
Instructor Biography: Justin Guy is a native of Edgefield. He works primarily at the Old Edgefield Pottery producing high-quality historical pottery by digging clay and firing in a wood-burning kiln. He also helps run the Tompkins Genealogical Library at the Edgefield County Archives to preserve Edgefield's History. He is a Jean Laney Heritage Award winner.

The Battle of Port Royal Sound: "A Smoldering Fire"

Meets: 2 Thursdays
Date(s): Apr 16, 23
Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $8.00
Description: A Smoldering Fire is about the causes and catalysts of the Civil War. A number of issues ignited the Civil War: states' rights, the role of the federal government, the preservation of the Union, the economy; but all were inextricably bound to the institution of slavery.
Session 1: Part one begins in 1619 with the arrival of the first Africans in Virginia and ends with the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States.
Session 2: The Battle of Port Royal Sound begins where "A Smoldering Fire" ends, the election of President Abraham Lincoln. It covers the secession of SC from the Union, the first shots fired at Fort Sumter, and ends with the first naval battle of the Civil War, the Battle of Port Royal Sound on November 7, 1861. Hilton Head Island and Beaufort, SC, fall to the Union and remain in Union hands for the remainder of the war.
Instructor Biography: Beverly Eggert, retired Beaufort County English teacher, served as the featured presenter and program coordinator for the lecture series presented in partnership with the Beaufort History Museum and the Beaufort County Library, as well as lecturer and pro

History of Hopelands Gardens and Rye Patch (Acquisition and Plans for Future)

Meets: Monday
Date(s): Apr 20
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: The City of Aiken began in 1835 with the Charleston to Hamburg railroad. It provided an escape from the summer heat and diseases for low country Carolinians and a place to enjoy horses, golf, tennis, teas, and elaborate dinners for wealthy Winter Colony "Yankees." C. Charles and Hope Iselin designed and built Hopelands on 10 acres in 1897. Rye Patch, 14 acres, became the winter home of Mr. and Mrs. Edmund (Dorothy Knox Goodyear) Rogers in 1938. Both properties now belong to the City of Aiken, where their natural settings are a popular site for children, weddings, and visitors seeking the quiet and serenity of the gardens. The properties' care, development and preservation are guided by the Friends of Hopelands and Rye Patch.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Holly Woltz is a recently retired small animal Veterinarian, having practiced for 36 years, and the former owner of Veterinary Services. She holds three degrees from the University of Georgia. Her community involvement has included: Chairperson of the ACS Relay for Life; originator of GEM for High School girls and the Paws for Cancer Walk; Board member of SC State Board of Veterinary Medicine and Aiken Symphony; President of Hopelands Gardens and Rye Patch; and features author for the Aiken Standard and various Aiken magazines.

Why Wolves are Widely Hated and Feared, and the Myths That Surround Them

Meets: Monday
Date(s): Apr 20
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: Perhaps folklore, fairy tales (Little Red Riding Hood, for example), and the stories that wolves kill livestock and compete with humans for food have caused us to hate and fear them. However, wolves are in many ways more like human beings than other animal species. They are social, highly intelligent, live in extended family groups/packs, and care deeply for their very young and very old. Sadly, we have hunted them to extinction and endangerment, but, interestingly, we are now cloning one extinct species. Their history is fascinating and intertwined with that of the closely-DNA-related domestic dog.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Holly Woltz is a recently retired small animal Veterinarian, having practiced for 36 years, and the former owner of Veterinary Services. She holds three degrees from the University of Georgia. Her community involvement has included: Chairperson of the ACS Relay for Life; originator of GEM for High School girls and the Paws for Cancer Walk; Board member of SC State Board of Veterinary Medicine and Aiken Symphony; President of Hopelands Gardens and Rye Patch; and features author for the Aiken Standard and various Aiken magazines.

The Body in Motion

Meets: Tuesday
Date(s): Apr 21
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: For decades, research has highlighted the positive benefits of physical activity on health. Despite the evidence to support this, increasingly prolonged periods of physical inactivity are subtly and aggressively taking over people's lives at school, at work, at home. Physical inactivity is becoming the first and worst enemy of health in today's society. This course will look at the effects of inactivity on the body as well as the benefits of physical movement. A review of some chair exercises will also be covered.
Instructor Biography: Susan Steinbis is a Registered Nurse with a background in critical care and a specialty in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

A Dream in the Making: The Graniteville Company and the Gregg-Graniteville Library

Meets: 2 Wednesdays
Date(s): Apr 22, 29
Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $8.00
Description: This special two-week course will briefly trace the history of the Graniteville Company and its role in the creation of the Gregg-Graniteville Library. Company founder William Gregg is renowned for his focus on education. That antebellum commitment found fulfillment in the Gregg-Graniteville Library. Professor Helsley will lecture and Professor Harmon will share artifacts illustrating the company and the library's history. This spring, the G-G Library celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Instructor Biography: Alexia Jones Helsley, historian and archivist, currently serves as senior instructor in history and university archivist at the USCA. She teaches South Carolina, Ancient and Medieval and Public History. She is the author of several non-fiction books including The Lost History of Aiken County, Beaufort, South Carolina: A History; Wicked Edisto: the Dark Side of Eden and a History of North Carolina Wine. Deborah Tritt Harmon, MLIS, MSIT, archivist of the Gregg-Graniteville Archives and associate professor at USCA's Gregg-Graniteville Library, holds degrees in literature, library science, and information technology. She mentors students in archival and digital archival practice and oversees the library's digital collections, fostering hands-on learning and preservation of regional history.

Vintage Photographs of Aiken

Meets: 2 Thursdays
Date(s): Apr 23, 30
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $8.00
Description: Allen has accumulated an impressive collection of photographs showing "Old Aiken," a place most of today's residents wouldn't recognize. This course will take people back in time to when Aiken was a very different town.
Instructor Biography: Allen Riddick is an Aiken native who graduated from Clemson University in 1978 and later received a Master's Degree from St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida. He has been the Aiken County Historical Society president since 1999 and has written three lo

Introduction to the Art of Paper Filigree (Quilling)

Meets: Friday
Date(s): Apr 24
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: 12
Cost: $10.00*
Description: Bring the ancient art of paper filigree to life and learn some of the shapes and techniques needed to turn simple paper strips into beautiful art, ornaments, and home d cor. During the course, each participant will practice various methods and then create a greeting card(s) suitable for giving. Manual and fine finger dexterity is helpful. *The cost of the course includes supplies.
Instructor Biography: Deborah Bruce has been making quilled art for five years. She is a member of the North American Quilling Guild where she attained several first-place blue ribbons in her skill category at the annual conference. She sells her quilling art in a local art shop, and she also teaches classes.

Hitchcock Woods Recovery From Hurricane Helene

Meets: Tuesday
Date(s): Apr 28
Time: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: In this course we will cover the cleanup and recovery efforts Hitchcock Woods Foundation staff has taken in 2025 and will continue to do until 2026 to help the forest recover and be more resilient for future significant weather events.
Instructor Biography: Bennett Tucker has served as the Woods Superintendent of Hitchcock Woods for the past 20 years. He is involved with the Aiken County Forestry Association, as where he currently serves as vice president, Additionally, he is the vice president of the Aiken Prescribed Fire Co-Op, and a member of the Advisory Council of the Aiken Land Conservancy.

US China Trade war: How Does the Trade war Reshape Great Power Relations

Meets: Tuesday
Date(s): Apr 28
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Location: Business & Education Building, Room 144
Class Size Limit: None
Cost: $5.00
Description: When President Trump started the "reciprocal tariffs" on over 180 countries in April of 2025, few envisioned the ultimate outcome of this trade war beyond increased revenue for the U.S. Treasury and encouragement of U.S. exports to the world. Trump's Trade War 2.0, which isolates and targets China and global communism, is reshaping great power relations with tariffs, trade deals, and third-country restrictions. The most critical advancement made in Trump's trade war seems to be a spiraling trilogy: trade deficit elimination, trade reciprocity, and, eventually, the emergence of a free China. Trump is building a new, global alliance to fight liberalism and socialism, joining partners from Javier Milei of Argentina, Giorgia Meloni of Italy, and Viktor Orban of Hungary. When the dust settles, a new pattern of great power relations is likely to emerge.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Frank Tian Xie is the John M. Olin Palmetto Chair Professor in Business and Professor of Marketing at the USCA, and Nonresident Fellow at Consilium Institute. He was a recipient of the Taiwan Fellowship and a Visiting Scholar at National Taiwan University. Dr. Xie was on the faculty of business at Drexel University. He obtained his PhD in marketing and MBA in finance from Georgia State University, and a BS from Peking University in China.