For 25 years, Kid College at UT Martin has “inspired the desire to inquire” by providing children with an opportunity to have a fun, learning experience each summer. Nearly 9,000 children from across Tennessee and 10 other states have taken advantage of the special summer program since its inception. Often, children visiting grandparents and other relatives in the summer have made Kid College an annual activity.

Through the years, the program spread and was offered in other locations—Waverly, Camden, Paris, Lexington, Dickson, Ripley, Parsons and Selmer.

New classes are added each year to the perennial favorites. Space Camp, How to Be a Pet Pro, Grossology!, Creepy Crawlies, Painting on Glass and Beginning Guitar have helped keep the nine-day program fresh for children kindergarten through fifth grade.

Marking the anniversary at the June 18 open house, a time capsule was buried. All past Kid College children, teachers, volunteers and others were invited to attend. Also, previous participants were asked to submit their favorite Kid College story about a special experience they had at Kid College.

“I was trying to remember how old I was when I enrolled in Dr. Gary Young’s Kid College course in entrepreneurship,” said Dr. Lane Boyte, Troy University-Dothan assistant professor in the Sorrell College of Business and a former Kid College student. “I think it was about 20 years ago…. However, that course set in motion the career I have today in economics and is the prime reason I continue my work in economic education. I am very thankful for programs such as this offering such a wide variety of exposure to young children instilling in them the faith and knowledge they can do whatever they desire.”

Isaac (Zac) Wright, former Kid College student and director of external affairs, Office of Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe, agreed with the impact of the program. “I know I would not be the person I am today were it not for the Kid College experience, and I am just one of thousands that feel that way. The program inspires a spark for learning and a passion for activity in young people that lasts a lifetime.”

In 1984, Diane Gower was UT Martin director of public service. The late Dr. John Eisterhold, dean, recommended she talk to Hilary B. Marabeti from Volunteer State Community College to discuss non-degree courses and programs. One of the programs they discussed was Volunteer State’s Kiddy College. UT Martin conducted its first Kid College in 1984. It was designed as a remedial program for students with a few fun classes included. After that, the courses were designed to provide a fun, learning experience for children.

From 1987-2001, Ruth Coleman Weldon served as director. “When I first began working with Kid College in 1986, I thought what a great opportunity for kids in a rural area to have a chance to experience such a unique learning environment,” said Weldon. “Little did I know that soon kids would be coming from all across the United States to visit grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends just so they could also attend Kid College.”

Weldon said the children get to be on a college campus for two weeks, attend classes in the same classrooms as the real college students, use the same science labs and computer labs as the college students, and even some of their classes are taught by college professors. She noted that many have had the opportunity to attend Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala., thanks to Diane Bell, instructor. Bell has taught space classes for many years and found sponsors over these years to support a scholarship for one student each year to attend Space Camp.

Classes based on science, math, art, sports, history, music and other subjects with kid-catching names—Explorers of Egypt, Knights, Princesses and Castles, Lights, Camera, Action!, Abracadabra, Science Central, and Sun-Catchers and Stained Glass Painting—keep children busy up to five hours a day.

“Kid College continues to be a wonderful experience for the student as well as the teacher. Each year I look forward to my Kid College classes and the electricity and enthusiasm in Gooch Hall during the first two weeks of June,” said Sheila Wilson, Kid College instructor. “While I may have assisted children in discovery, their love of learning continues to inspire me. Students never forget the fun they had at Kid College. My high school juniors and seniors reminisce about the classes they had and the friends they made during their years at UT Martin’s Kid College—always with a smile!”

“Kid College provided me not only a fun experience as a child but also provided me valuable experience in working toward my career goals in working with children,” said Misti Mount Coleman, former Kid College student, volunteer and Kid College onsite coordinator (Martin and Paris). “Plus I met a famous country singer—Hank Williams Jr.—whose children attended the Paris Kid College.”

“Kid College is great! Where else can a child be an astronaut, princess, artist, athlete, or a chef for two weeks,” said Bell. “Kid College allows children to see that they can be whatever they want to be and can accomplish anything through hard work and dedication. Dreams are made at Kid College. What could be better?”