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Spring 2025

Check back for our spring 2025 classes.

Fall 2024

Basket Weaving: Candy Corn Basket

Learn stop/start weaving, shaping, and rimming in this beginner class. Students will leave with their basket unstained, but staining techniques will be discussed as well as given a class handout. Finished product dimensions: 10” L x 16” H x 2” W

• Instructor: Bonnie Rideout
• Date: Sat, Sep 28
• Time: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Ages: 19 and over
• Cost: $69
• Location: Trutter Center, Room 1116
• Course Code: CEW 103-001

Drawing For Beginners

Get back to basics as you practice the grid method of drawing and how to shade and contour in graphite and charcoal. Please bring a Strathmore Drawing tablet (9×12” or larger), Kimberly graphite pencils (2H, HB, 2B, 4B & 6B), Generals charcoal pencils (2B, 4B & 6B), kneaded eraser, standard pink eraser, generals charcoal eraser, pencil sharpener, standard ruler, blending stumps and kneaded eraser. 4H and H and 6H, battery operated eraser, battery operated sharpener and chamois are recommended but not required.

• Instructor: Michelle Smith
• Date: Mon, Sep 30-Oct 28
• Time: 6-8 p.m.
• Ages: 19 and over
• Cost: $99
• Location: Kreher Agriculture Center, K1115
• Course Code: CEW 103-002

Intro to Italic Calligraphy

Made simple and easy in this basic hands-on workshop, learn to use the tools of calligraphy and practice a basic italic style. Supply fee of $20 payable to instructor on the first day of class.

• Instructor: Steve Ingerson
• Date: Wed, Oct 2-Nov 13
• Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• Ages: 19 and over
• Cost: $145
• Location: Montgomery Hall, Room 1142
• Course Code: CEW 103-003

Watercolor Bag of Tricks

Examine special watercolor techniques and use them to create a painting. After registering, please email the Carolyn Owen Sommer for a list of supplies to bring .

• Instructor: Carolyn Owen Sommer
• Date: Tue, Oct 8-29
• Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• Ages: 19 and over
• Cost: $79
• Location: Millennium Center, Room 1114
• Course Code: CEW 103-004

Mixed Media with Watercolor

Using a watercolor base, create mixed media paintings with stencil, gesso, surface alterations and collage. Students should bring mixed media paper and brushes. Collage papers, acrylic medium and additional supplies will be provided.

• Instructor: Carolyn Owen Sommer
• Date: Tue, Nov 12-Dec 3
• Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• Ages: 19 and over
• Cost: $79
• Location: Trutter Center, Room 1116
• Course Code: CEW 103-005

Basket Weaving: Silent Night Basket

Silent Night is a fun and fast basket to weave and makes a great gift for anyone. Silent Night starts by weaving a woven, filled base and techniques include start/stop weaving, twining, the use of overlays and working with Shaker Tape handles. Finished product dimensions: 5 ¼” H x 5 ½” W x 6 ¾” L  

• Instructor: Bonnie Rideout
• Date: Wed, Dec 4
• Time: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Ages: 19 and over
• Cost: $69
• Location: Trutter Center, Room 1116
• Course Code: CEW 103-006

Basket Weaving: Christmas Card Basket

What a pretty basket to put your Christmas Cards in or fill with ornaments or pinecones. The Christmas Card basket starts with a woven, filled base and techniques include twining, triple twining with an arrow, the use of overlays, decreased weaving and using triple twining as a rim.  A pretty wood snowflake completes this basket.  It is sure to become a holiday favorite! Finished product dimensions: 6 1/2” H x 6” W x 8 1/2” L

• Instructor: Bonnie Rideout
• Date: Sat, Dec 14
• Time: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Ages: 19 and over
• Cost: $69
• Location: Trutter Center, Room 1116
• Course Code: CEW 103-007

CPR classes are taught by ��ͷ��app Emergency Services Programs staff. Certification is through the American Heart Association and covers adult, child and infant CPR in addition to AED usage and choking care for all ages. No first aid or other health care treatment is addressed within the course.

Classes are $60 and includes course materials, required student manual and CPR card. Registration deadline is one week prior to class date.

All CPR classes take place from 6-10 p.m. in the Trutter Center, room 1116 on the ��ͷ��app-Springfield campus unless otherwise noted.

Fall 2024

• Wed, Aug 28, course code CEW 107-004
• Mon, Sep 9, course code CEW 107-005
• Thu, Sep 26, course code CEW 107-006
• Tue, Oct 8, course code CEW 107-007
• Wed, Oct 23, course code CEW 107-008
• Mon, Nov 4, course code CEW 107-009
• Thu, Nov 21, course code CEW 107-010

��ͷ��app Community Education offers fun, educational, non-credit culinary experiences! These include hands-on enrichment classes, demonstrations, dinners, special nights out, team building and youth programs. 

View Culinary Offerings

Class offerings are updated throughout the year. Check back again soon!

Fall 2024

Retirement Planning Today

Retirement Planning Today® is an education course for pre-retirees (50-65) looking for an unbiased and comprehensive perspective on important retirement planning concerns. Topics include life planning for retirement, retirement needs and expenses, retirement roadblocks and mistakes, retirement income sources, retirement plan distributions, investments, risk management and asset protection, estate planning.

Textbook included. Registration is required and space is limited. Included: illustrated textbook.

When registering two, the fee for first person is $59 and the second person is $0. Both must register at the same time.

• Instructor: Mark Kluemke
• Date: Sat, Sep 28 and Oct 5
• Time: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Location: Kreher Agriculture Center, Room 1115/1117
• Ages: 50 and over
• Cost: $59 for first person, $0 for second person
• Course code: First person CEW 105-001, second person CEW 105-002

• Instructor: Mark Kluemke
• Date: Tue, Oct 1 and Oct 8
• Time: 6:30-9:30 p.m.
• Location: Kreher Agriculture Center, Room 1115/1117
• Ages: 50 and over
• Cost: $59 for first person, $0 for second person
• Course code: First person CEW 105-003, second person CEW 105-004

Fall 2024

Introduction to Floral Design

Learn floral design techniques in a fun, creative, hands-on course. Make DIY home decorations and explore basic design principles and various design methods. Students will create a minimum of eight different pieces guided by an experienced floral designer. Students should bring one pair of scissors and one pair of clippers/pruners for the purpose of cutting stems, tape, wires. A supply fee of $150 is payable to the instructor on the first day of class which covers the costs of floral foam, floral frogs, wire, clay, wreath forms, containers/vases and fresh flowers for the eight designs.

• Instructor: Tabitha Becker
• Date:  Wed, Oct 16-Dec 11 (no class on Wed, Nov 27)
• Time: 5-7 p.m.
• Ages: 19 and over
• Cost: $149
• Location: Sangamon Hall, Room 2209
• Course Code: CEW 103-008

Fall 2024

American Sign Language (ASL) Level 1

Learn basic sign hand shapes, vocabulary, grammar, cultural information and practice every-day interpersonal interaction. Classroom experiences are conducted to maximize visual language learning. Textbook is required and may be purchased from the ��ͷ��app Bookstore: “Learning American Sign Language” ISBN 0-205-27553-2.

• Instructor: Doni Cosby-Stricklen
• Date: Wed, Sep 4-Nov 20
• Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• Ages: 19 and over
• Cost: $199
• Location: Menard Hall, Room 1179
• Course Code: CEW 401-001

Conversational Spanish Level 1

For people with no experience with Spanish, this course is designed to encourage you to start learning the second most spoken language in the U.S. (about 45 million speak it). Starting with the alphabet and numbers, you’ll be exploring what it is like speaking and understanding Spanish from the very beginning of the class. A textbook is required and may be purchased from the ��ͷ��app Bookstore: “Get Started in Spanish: Absolute Beginner Course” ISBN: 978-1444174922.

• Instructor: Nelson Lara
• Date: Mon, Sep 9-Oct 28
• Time: 7-9 p.m.
• Ages: 19 and over
• Cost: $149
• Location: Menard Hall, Room 1177
• Course Code: CEW 401-002

Beginning French

In this introductory class, you will learn the beautiful French language. Students will learn the alphabet, numbers, and basic grammar as well as conversational phrases and skills. Textbook is required and may be purchased from the ��ͷ��app Bookstore: “Easy French Step-by-Step” 978-0071453875.

• Instructor: Audrey Koffi
• Date: Mon, Oct 7-Oct 28
• Time: 4-6 p.m.
• Ages: 19 and over
• Cost: $95
• Location: Millenium Center, Room 2237
• Course Code: CEW 401-005

Class offerings are updated throughout the year. Check back again soon!

Fall 2024

Want to Save on Travel Expenses? How to Earn and Spend Rewards Points for Travel through Credit Cards

It may seem too good to be true, and you may be worried about upsetting Dave Ramsey, but credit card bonuses and points systems offer a way to travel the country and the world for next to nothing. While credit cards can be dangerous for some people, they can be incredibly beneficial to those who understand how they work. This class will walk through the background of rewards points, how they are earned, and how you can maximize their value when using them. As someone who has studied this hobby for the past six years and earned over 1 million points, the instructor will provide the tools for you to safely and confidently begin this addictive and rewarding venture!

• Instructor: Kevin Klemm
• Date: Sat, Oct 5
• Time: 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Ages: 19 and over
• Cost: $19
• Location: Millennium Center, Room 2237
• Course Code: CEW 105-005

Your Life in Your Words

Do you want to put your life story down on paper? In this class, you will learn the ways you can structure your memoir, autobiography, or personal writings whether you intend to publish or keep them for your family records. We’ll discuss the differences between each type of personal writing, the key aspects to writing about yourself, and how to format your stories into a narrative.

• Instructor: Courtney Smith
• Date: Sat, Oct 5
• Time: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Ages: 19 and over
• Cost: $39
• Location: Millennium Center, Room 2203
• Course Code: CEW 115-002

Ghost Hunting 101

Whether you are a true believer or a skeptic with an open mind, gain a deeper insight into the world of the paranormal. Learn best practices for ghost hunting, investigating and reviewing evidence as respected investigators guide you through the essential characteristics and scientific methodology of paranormal investigation.

• Instructor: Loren Hamilton
• Date: Tue, Oct 22 & 29
• Time: 6-9 p.m.
• Ages: 19 and over
• Cost: $59
• Location: Millennium Center, Room 2203
• Course Code: CEW 112-003

Refuse to be a Victim

Learn crime prevention tips on physical & home security, automobile & vacation security and cyber security.

• Instructor: Loren Hamilton
• Date: Tue, Nov 12 & 19
• Time: 6-9 p.m.
• Ages: 19 and over
• Cost: $59
• Location: Millennium Center, Room, 2203
• Course Code: CEW 112-004

Introduction to Voice Overs

This fun and empowering 90-minute, one-on-one introductory workshop covers the different types of voiceovers and what tools are needed to find success. You will be coached and recorded as you read a script so you can receive a professional voice evaluation later and the input necessary to help you decide if this is something you’d like you pursue.

• Instructor: ��ͷ��app Staff
• Date and Time: Call 217-786-2432 to schedule your one-on-one session.
• Ages: 19 and over
• Cost: $49
• Location: Online
• Course Code: CEW 116-001

Fall 2024

Photography for Beginners

Learn the history of where photography came from to where it is now, as well as the basic functions of your camera and what each symbol means. Learn the difference between JPEG, RAW and TIFF files in addition to the best ways to capture the images you are wanting. Upon completion of this course, you will leave with the knowledge and understanding of how your own personal camera functions to capture those moments. Please bring your camera with your specific manual.

• Instructor: Tabitha Bock-Matlock
• Date: Tue, Sep 17-Oct 15
• Time: 6-8 p.m.
• Ages: 19 and over
• Cost: $149
• Location: Millennium Center, Room 2237
• Course Code: CEW 104-001

General Portraiture

Go beyond “Hey get together for a photo!” and get those photos you always wanted. Say goodbye to awkward family photos and hello to framers! In this course, Tabitha will offer tips and tricks to taking photos you will actually want to print. Couple, family and senior portraiture will be covered. Within these units, lighting and technique will also be demonstrated. Please bring your camera.

• Instructor: Tabitha Bock-Matlock
• Date: Wed, Oct 2-Oct 23
• Time: 6-7 p.m.
• Ages: 19 and over
• Cost: $ 65
• Location: Millennium Center, Room 2237
• Course Code: CEW 104-002

Becoming a Professional Photographer

Start making money on your passion! Join Tabitha Bock-Matlock as she takes you through the ins and outs of conducting a business and getting taken seriously. As a professional wedding and studio photographer herself, she will give you the tips, tricks and secrets to marketing yourself as a professional. Please bring a camera or phone.

• Instructor: Tabitha Bock-Matlock
• Date: Tue, Oct 29
• Time: 6-8 p.m.
• Ages: 19 and over
• Cost: $45
• Location: Millennium Center, Room 2203
• Course Code: CEW 104-003

Photoshop

Review Photoshop’s powerful tools and learn techniques such as basic editing, cropping, adjusting colors, converting images to black and white, layering, adding text, specialty tool usage and more! Bring your own laptop with Photoshop installed, or use a computer in our Mac lab.

• Instructor: Tabitha Bock-Matlock
• Date: Wed, Oct 30-Nov 20
• Time: 6-8 p.m. 
• Ages: 19 and over
• Cost: $149
• Location: Menard Hall, Room 2274
• Course Code: CEW 104-004

Class offerings are updated throughout the year. Check back again soon!