College for Kids 'trashes fashion' and gets in the NASCAR pits

Date: 6/2/2009

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



WESTFIELD -- Kids and teens age five to 16 don't have to be certified geniuses to attend college this summer.

College for Kids at Westfield State College (WSC) will offer over 50 classes from "Balloon Architecture" to "Rocket Science" to "Creative Melon Carving" for students willing to dedicate themselves to fun beginning July 6.

"We've surpassed our monthly [enrollment] benchmarks," Maryann Walsh, coordinator of College for Kids, said. "This is hopefully going to be as big as last year, which was our biggest year [ever, with 700 students]."

She added that 406 kids and teens have registered thus far with the most popular classes including "Amazing Archeology: Keeping Up with Indiana Jones," "Pirates and Scalawags," "Lights, Camera, Action -- Video Making for Teens" and "NASCAR Pit Crew."

Ariana Rizzitano, a junior at Wellesley College, will teach three courses this summer including "Trashin' Fashion," "Beginning Web Design" and "Tee Party."

"I want the students to learn that being fashionable doesn't have to cost a lot of money," Rizzitano said of her "Trashin' Fashion" course. "They can create their own style [by] taking things that would be thrown away [such as] candy wrappers or soda tabs and remaking them into accessories.

"I like to think that not only do they learn the skills necessary for the projects but they also get a sense of independence," she continued. "They don't need to buy things at the store they can make themselves."

Rizzitano noted that students are also taught recycling practices in her "Tee Party" course, which takes vintage T-shirts and transforms them into accessories or other clothing.

Brian Janik said he will return for his second year to teach "NASCAR Pit Crew" the week of July 13. He explained that students will learn about the differences between their parents' car and a racer as well as basic maintenance practices.

James Witbeck, a WSC graduate with a bachelor's degree in music, will teach "Rockology: The Fundamentals of Rocking Out!" He explained that his course will allow students the opportunity to write their own songs and learn performance techniques.

Walsh noted that students from the course will play at the end-of-the-term reception, which will also feature students' work from all courses.

Weeklong morning and afternoon courses at College for Kids will take place July 6 through Aug. 1.

For a course catalogue, visit www.wsc.ma.edu/cfk/index.html.