OLLI at Aquinas College

06/12/2026

The 2026 World Cup is officially under way! Join us next week as we welcome Pitzer College Professor Andre Wakefield for "The History and Politics of World Soccer." Click HERE to register → https://shorturl.at/524kZ

06/09/2026

Learning doesn't stop when class ends! Join fellow OLLI members in our Shared Interest Groups, where friendships grow alongside passions for hiking, gardening, and fiber arts. Explore new trails, share gardening tips, or connect with fellow makers—all in a welcoming community of lifelong learners. Contact Susan Kohloff at [email protected] to be added to a group list.

06/05/2026

Following an urban renewal campaign and the 1969 installation of Alexander Calder’s "La Grande Vitesse," the first Festival of the Arts—colloquially known as “Festival”—was held as a celebration of the arts in West Michigan. For fifty-five years, the first Friday of June welcomed Grand Rapids' biggest street party, and today, OLLI welcomed longtime Festival volunteer and former chair Gina Bivins to share her perspective on one of Grand Rapids' best traditions.

06/04/2026

Come and get it! We were thankful to partner with FarmLink and Aquinas College Dining Services to host our second “OLLI Supper Club” featuring all locally-sourced, farm-fresh food.

05/29/2026

OLLI was happy to be recognized in Vitality At Home's "Vitality Spotlight Series" this week. Take a listen to the conversation between OLLI Director Ian MacNeil and Vitality At Home's Jenna Smith all about the wellness benefits of lifelong learning.

✨ NEW Voices of Vitality Spotlight Series Episode ✨

What if one of the most powerful ways to stay vibrant in the fourth quarter of life… is simply staying curious?

In this episode, I sit down with Ian MacNeil, Director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Aquinas College, to talk about the incredible impact lifelong learning, community, and curiosity can have on our health, purpose, and overall vitality.

We discuss:
💜 Why learning should never stop
💜 The connection between curiosity, cognition, and well-being
💜 Breaking stereotypes around aging
💜 How community and shared experiences keep us thriving
💜 Why it’s never “too late” to try something new

This conversation was inspiring, energizing, and such an important reminder that living your best life truly never gets old.

🎥 Watch now on YouTube!
https://youtu.be/l8R2cmq5kBU

05/27/2026

Great things were brewing at Ferris Coffee & Nut Co. today as OLLI members toured and tasted the coffee roastery. Ferris Coffee & Nut Co. has been family-owned and operated on Grand Rapids’ west side for over 100 years.

05/20/2026

We are excited to welcome Maggie Murphy to OLLI at Aquinas College on FRI, May 29, 2026, at 9:30am, for this fascinating tale of grit, grace, and grandeur. Click here to register → https://shorturl.at/Gzxgv

05/18/2026

OLLI members went behind the scenes at John Ball Zoo for a special introduction to the Zoo’s newest stars—pygmy hippos Jahari, Penelope, and baby Hugo! 🦛

Over two weeks, members explored the Zoo’s important conservation efforts, detailed the remarkable care provided to these endangered animals, and even got an inside look at the state-of-the-art water filtration system that keeps the hippo habitat thriving.

Thank you to our partners at John Ball Zoo for a stellar experience!

05/14/2026

Before joining them at their public performance this evening, OLLI scholars journeyed to the western edge of the world with Vox GR—Western Michigan’s premier professional vocal ensemble. Founding Artistic Director Christopher Mason, PhD, and Vox GR Board President David Weinandy, PhD, led us on a Camino-inspired walk across the campus of Aquinas College.

Along the way, members of the ensemble offered an exclusive preview quartet performance before, in the spirit of the Camino de Santiago tradition, OLLI scholars released a natural treasure into Coldbrook Creek—a symbolic act of reflection and letting go.

Join Vox GR tonight and throughout their performance season. Visit voxgr.com for more information.

05/13/2026

Last night, OLLI members got a sneak peek of the first main stage production of the Circle Theatre Grand Rapids 2026 season: “Forever Plaid.” The event included a delicious meal, 1950s music bingo, and a Q&A with the creative team before a preview performance. The show runs May 14-30, 2026. Get tickets at www.circle theatre.org.