PITTSBURG, Kan. — Grandparents and their grandchildren ages eight to 11 came together on the Pittsburg State University campus on Thursday for one day of fun, adventure, learning, and bonding.

The inaugural Grandparents University summer program is an effort to foster intergenerational learning, bringing together alumni from PSU along with their grandkids, who participated in a number of activities.

In an event that has been around since 2001 across the country, particularly Division I colleges, attendees spent the morning and afternoon following a curated class schedule, rotating through a series of hands-on sessions led by PSU faculty and staff.

For alumna Tammy Thomas and her granddaughter Elaina, the idea to attend the first-ever event came from Thomas’ daughter-in-law.

“I am a two-time graduate with my master's and my EdS and my daughter-in-law, her mom, and her dad both, graduated from PSU and so her mom saw it on Facebook and sent it to me and asked ‘Do you want to go?’ so I said ‘Sure,’” said Tammy.

Classes featured on Thursday included construction (birdhouse building), nursing (emergency safety, infection control, and a simulation scenario), theater (character development, movement, action, costumes, and props), technology (learning with technology), and business (problem-solving).

“We first started off with breakfast, and then we moved onto business where we got to do some activities like they gave us some ideas and we had to brainstorm,” said Elaina. “Then we went to nursing where we got to do some CPR and see what’s safe and not.”

The attendees also participated in a movement session with PSU athletes, getting autographs from athletes on their “Grandparents University” shirts before breaking for lunch.

The event closed with a graduation ceremony in the Wilkinson Alumni Center, complete with a graduation gown, a certificate, and, of course, a picture with Gus the Gorilla. Graduates additionally received a handshake and “congratulations” from PSU President Thomas Newsom and PSU Vice President of Advancement and President/CEO of the University Foundation Kathleen Flannery.

“We’ve truly enjoyed seeing future Gorillas and grandparents working together today (Thursday),” said Senior Director of Alumni & Constituent Relations and emcee Danielle Driskill. “... Today, we celebrate a special group of Gorillas who have proven that learning is more fun when generations learn together. Throughout today, our students had attended classes, explored campus, mastered new skills, made some new friends, and in some cases, consumed impressive amounts of sno cones.

“... During your time at Grandparents University, you truly demonstrated some truly extraordinary skills. You learned new subjects, you worked together as a team, you explored our beautiful campus, you mastered the art of finding your next activity before it started, and, perhaps, most impressively, you managed to keep track of your grandparents all day long. Here at Pittsburg State University, we value curiosity, hard work, and community. You have shown all three and for that, we are especially proud of you.”

For more information on future PSU camps, visit pittstate.edu/office/ticket-office/summer-camps.html.

This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews.