Eldene Niel’s friends like playing bingo. She prefers learning Latin.
The Merryville native has taken classes at McNeese—covering French and sociology and American literature—off-and-on for decades. And next May, she’ll receive her Bachelor of General Studies.
Her graduation has been supported by McNeese’s EASE (Emphasis on Adult Special Entry) program which assists students over 60 in registering for undergraduate courses. Students receive a significant discount on their first three credit hours each semester.
After paying a $20 fee and completing a brief online application, EASE students are guided through the entire registration and advising process by Director of Community Services and Outreach Betty Anderson.
According to the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness, 19 students over age 64 attended McNeese classes during the fall 2016 semester.
Niel first registered for EASE to take French classes with her husband John after his retirement from dentistry. They’d heard that learning foreign languages forestalls Alzheimer’s, which runs in their family. And John believed that “you should always be a student,” Niel said.
Niel had been a student many times before. During high school, a teacher inspired her love of reading and learning, so she enrolled at McNeese after graduation. But three semesters later, personal circumstances required her to leave.
She later took night classes, but her four children called her home.
And when she tried again, John’s dental practice needed her as an office manager.
His retirement finally allowed the couple to take several semesters of French courses.
But since his passing, she’s returned to McNeese—and this time, she’s going to graduate.
Now in her sixth semester, she’s studied mostly English literature, including classes on composition, short stories and American literature.
She enjoys learning history through her readings and hearing the perspectives of her younger classmates.
Though Niel is pursuing a degree, other students opt for individual classes.
Merele Trares, a retired art teacher, has taken four years of art classes because “you can always find more inspiration.”
Her husband, John, is in his third semester of music theory courses since his retirement from meteorology.
And Barry O’Meara, who signed up for art classes after leaving the oil field, is now studying photography.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for them to come back to school and broaden their horizons,” Anderson said.
Niel commends Anderson for her efforts to make coursework accessible to seniors.
And Niel’s children are proud of her for pursuing her studies.
Outside of class, she regularly practices yoga and runs a YouTube cooking show called “Cooking Can Be Fun! with Edlene.”
After graduation, though, she says she’ll probably take more classes. Future interests include Latin, Greek, mythology, art history and sociology.
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