BYU welcomes visitors to annual Campus Education Week

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Right before the leaves change colors, and before football fans begin their fall rituals, thousands make their way to BYU campus to listen, learn and serve.

BYU’s Campus Education Week has been a staple in the community since 1922, and many consider it to be one of the most unique programs for adult education in America. This year’s event, themed “That All May be Edified,” will take place today through Friday at various locations across campus.

“This is the first year I’m attending, but I have wanted to come for many years.” said Cyndi Forsyth, a 1973 BYU graduate who studied child development and family relations. “I will be taking a wide range of classes for physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.”

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Education Week participants walk down a bridge leading from the Marriott Center after attending devotional last year. Stephanie Rhodes
Forsyth said she is looking forward to relaxing and returning home filled with knowledge while receiving a spiritual boost.

“I am looking to improve my skills as the parent of adult children, as well as being an awesome grandmother,” Forsyth said.

According to Bruce Payne, program administrator for Campus Education Week, this year’s theme highlights the benefits of coming together to learn truth, increase in wisdom and knowledge and share the various gifts we possess. He said it serves as an invitation to seek inspiration and personal growth so others in turn can be edified by the things learned.

“The theme is taken from Doctrine and Covenants 88:122, and was used as the theme for the University Conference to begin the past school year,” Payne said. “The theme serves as an invitation to seek inspiration and personal growth so that others can in turn be edified by the things [they] learn.”

Robyn Brimhall, chief sonographer at Valley OB/GYN in Provo, said Education Week has been an integral part of her life.

“It just keeps me grounded for the rest of the year,” Brimhall said.

She has attended Education Week for several years and said it gives her a boost to tackle the coming year.

Education Week features more than 1,000 classes addressing topics such as education, religion, marriage and family, genealogy, health, history and more.

“Registration begins early in April and continues until the last night of the program,” Payne said. “We generally have 10,000 registrations before the program and another 10,000 who register the week of the program.  As of a week before the program, registrations are up 4 percent over 2010.”

Payne said this is the third year in a row registration numbers have increased.

Elder Jay E. Jensen of the Presidency of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be this year’s Education Week Devotional speaker Tuesday at 11:05 a.m. in the Marriott Center. The Devotional is free and open to the public.

“With attendees coming from nearly every state and from 18 foreign countries, it’s a great opportunity for all to hear the counsel of a Church leader,” Payne said.

Campus Education Week classes are taught by more than 200 presenters and the event is spread out over campus.

“Attendees often end up wishing they had more comfortable shoes,” Payne said. “One person commented, ‘people should engage in an exercise program before coming.’ ”

During Education Week, typically 500 to 600 volunteers are needed to serve as hosting staff. These spots fill long before the event, but a waiting list is available for those interested.

Pollyanna Eyler, Provo resident and long-time volunteer, said she volunteered because she gets to see old friends and make new friends while serving.

“When you are volunteering, not always but often, you get to listen in on great classes,” Eyler said. ” That allows [me] to feel the Spirit and get ideas to benefit [my] life.”

Eyler also said the lessons learned brought a new light into her life.

“[I] really began to see the Atonement in a different light and that gave me hope despite my fears and faults,” Eyler said. “[Different] classes have [given me] ideas for increasing unity in my family and marriage.”

Payne said those attending Education Week are able to have a BYU experience and come away with ideas that will bless their lives.

“The theme serves as an invitation to us to seek inspiration and personal growth so that others can in turn be edified by the things we learn,” Payne said.

Classes will begin each day at 8:30 a.m. Classes end at 4:05 p.m. on Monday and at 9:25 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. The program is designed primarily for adults, although anyone age 14 and older may attend. Children under the age of 14 and individuals with infants will not be admitted.

Access to south Campus Drive is no longer open to the public, and only vehicles with a valid pass are allowed through the gates.

Overnight parking is available only in Lot 37 north of the Indoor Practice Facility. Recreational vehicle parking is also restricted to Lot 37 north of the Indoor Practice facility. Shuttle vans will run from there to the main campus. RVs must be completely self-contained and may only be parked in this designated area. Participants are strongly encouraged to stay in local RV campgrounds that are better suited for RVs. They are also asked not to bring pets onto campus property.

Education Week will also include three fine arts performances at the Harris Fine Arts Center Wednesday through Friday evenings:

“Rejoice: An Evening of Music and Inspiration” will feature many favorite LDS artists at 7 p.m. in the Pardoe Theatre. Artists will include Cherie Call, Dan Beck, Jessie Clark Funk, Sam Payne, April Moriarty, Todd McCabe, Ryan Tilby and April Meservy.

BYU will host the SCERA Center for the Arts’ production of “Aida” at 7 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. One of the most popular contemporary musicals, Elton John and Tim Rice’s “Aida” is an epic tale of the timeless bond between an enslaved Nubian princess and an Egyptian soldier.

“Wish Upon a Star: A Tribute to the Magical Music of Walt Disney” will take place at 8 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall. Concert violinist and popular recording artist Jenny Oaks Baker will perform such Disney classics as “Mary Poppins Suite,” “When You Wish Upon a Star,” “Someday My Prince Will Come,” “Once Upon a Dream” and other favorites.

Tickets are $12 for all performances and are on sale now at the Harris Fine Arts Ticket Office at 801-422-4322 or online at byuarts.com. The public is welcome to purchase tickets to attend any of the fine arts events without Education Week registration.

To assist senior and disabled students, courtesy vans will run between on-campus housing and campus buildings between 8 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. on Monday; 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; and 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. on Thursday. The van routes are designed to take participants to key destination points, but cannot take them directly to the door. Although accommodations for those in need of transportation are available, it is the individual’s responsibility to move from class to class or to their place of residence.

Shuttles will also run between the perimeter parking lots and the main campus at regular intervals. Van stops are indicated on the campus map, and large detailed maps of the routes will be posted at each stop and at all Education Week information desks.

There will be a youth dance Thursday from 8 to 11 p.m. at the south end concourse of LaVell Edwards Stadium. Young men and women are encouraged to dress in Sunday best.

For those not able to attend this year, or those who can not wait for next year’s Education Week, it will be held Aug. 13–17, 2012.

Campus Education Week is co-sponsored by BYU and the LDS Church Educational System. For more information, visit educationweek.byu.edu or call the Education Week office at 801-422-2087.

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