![]() Senior Academy October 2025 Newsletter
Wednesday, Oct. 8 on Zoom, 11 a.m. to noon - The Senior Academy Book Club selection for October is Allegra Goodman’s Isola, which was inspired by the true story of Marguerite de la Rocque, a 16th-Century French noblewoman who was marooned on a desolate island for years. Marguerite is robbed of her inheritance by her guardian and forced to accompany him on an expedition to New France. There, she and the guardian’s servant, with whom she has developed a romantic relationship, are abandoned in the subarctic environment of a small island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Isola is an epic saga of love, faith, defiance and the struggle for survival. Stephanie Dickey will lead a discussion of the book. For more information and to receive the Zoom link, register at this link.
2025 IU Indianapolis Last Lecture On Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, at 2 p.m. in the Campus Center Theater, Dr. Susan Hyatt, Professor Emerita of Anthropology, will deliver the 2025 Last Lecture, “Off the Campus and Into the Community: Teaching as Community Organizing.” A reception will follow. Over her career, Dr. Hyatt’s groundbreaking community-engaged teaching, research and service helped advance our university’s core mission of collaborative involvement with communities of central Indiana and beyond. Dr. Hyatt fostered collaborative work between students and community members, including projects involving Jewish and Black residents of the Indianapolis Southside and in education programs that brought together campus and incarcerated students as part of the Inside-Out Prison Exchange pedagogical model. Mark your calendar and click on this link to register to attend. The Last Lecture is hosted by the Senior Academy, the Office of the Provost and the Indiana University Foundation.
Holiday Gathering Registration Now OpenThe Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center will be the location for our 2025 Senior Academy Holiday Gathering, 12-2 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 11. Join us as we mingle, enjoy a lunch buffet and visit the annual Festival of Trees and other collections of this important Indiana venue. Featured exhibits in December include RESIST! highlighting Notre Dame student activism against the KKK and The Electric Railway: Indiana’s Interurbans. Permanent exhibits include the Cole Porter Room and the W. Brooks and Wanda Y. Fortune History Lab. A brief program will leave plenty of time for conversing and connecting with your Senior Academy friends while experiencing the IHC’s festive holiday ambience. The $30 cost includes lunch, parking and admission to the Festival of Trees and all IHC collections and exhibits.
Meet Our Scholarship WinnersFour students are receiving scholarship support during 2025-26 from three endowed scholarship programs funded by Senior Academy members. We are featuring one student here each month. Senior Academy Freshman Scholarship for IPS students
Ikeila Watford is a 2025 graduate of Arsenal Tech High School who holds a CNA license and dementia care certificate earned through the Arsenal Health Sciences program. In addition to serving as captain of the cheer team, she participated in the Too Much Dance team throughout high school. She credits her own personal experience with surgery and extensive medical follow-up at age 12 for sparking her interest in pursuing a career in healthcare and plans to earn a Nursing degree at IU Indianapolis. Learn more and support the Scholarship for IPS Students
Wednesday, Oct. 8 on Zoom, 11 a.m. to noon - The Senior Academy Book Club selection for October is Allegra Goodman’s Isola, which was inspired by the true story of Marguerite de la Rocque, a 16th-Century French noblewoman who was marooned on a desolate island for years. Marguerite is robbed of her inheritance by her guardian and forced to accompany him on an expedition to New France. There, she and the guardian’s servant, with whom she has developed a romantic relationship, are abandoned in the subarctic environment of a small island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Isola is an epic saga of love, faith, defiance and the struggle for survival. Stephanie Dickey will lead a discussion of the book. For more information and to receive the Zoom link, register at this link.
The Senior Academy String Theory Group invites Senior Academy members, spouses, partners and friends to get together with others and chat while knitting, crocheting or being otherwise creative. All skill levels are welcomed and supported, including beginners. At the October meeting, we will sort a year's worth of items for distribution to organizations such as the Simon Cancer Center, IU Student Outreach Clinic and Gennesaret Free Clinics. Meetings take place on the second Tuesday of the month, 4:30-6 p.m. EDT in a member’s home. However, String Theory does not meet in November and December. Meetings will resume in January. Register at this link to get the address of the October meeting.
Your Gifts Matter More than EverThe campus United Way Campaign is off to a strong start with members of the Senior Academy continuing their generous ways in supporting our larger community. The campaign runs through the end of October, though earlier gifts are much appreciated! Visit the online pledge site or contact Mark Grove (mgrove@iu.edu) for a paper pledge form.
We Want to Hear from You!Do you have feedback, suggestions, or ideas for programs or activities? Would you like to get involved with the Board of Directors or a committee? We would love to hear from you! Contact Christine Fitzpatrick (ude[dot]ui[at]tapztifc) |
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