• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

MarionMade

People, Places, Products, Programs

Visit Us On FacebookVisit Us On TwitterVisit Us On YoutubeCheck Our FeedVisit Us On Instagram
We Are Presidential!We Are Having Fun!We Are Generous!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
    • MarionMade! 5k Sign Up
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

LEI Lifelong Learning

By MarionMade! on January 15, 2018

The Learning Enrichment Institute (LEI) provides an opportunity for individuals 50 and older to broaden their experiences through a schedule of short, non-credit courses that promote creativity, free thinking, and personal growth and development. The program is a partnership between The Ohio State University at Marion and Marion Technical College and was established in 2006.

Over the past 11 years, LEI has provided over 500 unique courses to more than 600 community participants. It offers two terms (autumn and spring, each lasting approximately 5-6 weeks) of programming each year that meet the diverse needs and interests of adults 50 and older.

Faculty and staff from both campus institutions make up a large number of our instructors. However, many of the instructors for these specialized courses come from the Marion community. Presenters from local establishments including the Marion Public Library, Marion County Park District, Carousels and Carvings have willingly donated their time to share their knowledge with our participants.

Although most of our LEI participants come from Marion County, we are starting to pull more from outside of our area, bringing more people to our community to experience something positive. Instructors from across Ohio also participate, bringing in speakers and specialists from many disciplines and backgrounds.

LEI is a community service/outreach effort modeled after more than 600 successful “elderhostel” programs across the country. It belongs to the official Road Scholar Institute Network. It is living proof that learning never stops and the Marion community is lucky to have such a gem.

#MarionMade #WeAreLearning #WeAreTheOhioStateatMarion #WeAreMarionTechnicalCollege

Recent MarionMade! Stories

  • Marion Offers Opportunities to Generations of the Cramer and Bosh Families

    Ron Cramer’s roots in Marion County run deep. His maternal grandfather, Don F. Bosh, worked at the Marion Power Shovel as a master machinist while living on a family farm in Iberia. Cramer remembers, as a 12-year-old, pushing a reel mower for six hours to cut his great-grandfather’s grass at the family home in Marion […]Read More »
  • Leapin’ Outreach Center

    Leapin’ Outreach Center (Leapin’) has been serving the Marion area for over 17 years. Leapin’ is a not-for-profit, faith-based organization in Marion. Since opening, Leapin’ has been staffed entirely by volunteers who work to serve and meet the needs of the less fortunate in Marion County. “Nearly 18 years ago, God put it on my […]Read More »
  • Good Neighbor Day

    LOCAL FLOWER SHOP PROMOTES GOOD NEIGHBORS. The Marion Flower Shop, known—among other things—for its rose give-away each September on Good Neighbor Day, has been a Marion institution since the 1920s.  It was started by Aaron Goerlich when he began selling vegetables from his home garden on his mail delivery route. In 1923, the first greenhouse […]Read More »
  • Veterans and Families Honor Service with Military Banners

    A group of veterans and volunteers are working to honor service members with hundreds of military banners around Marion. “It makes me proud. Marion pays respect to citizens who accept the call to service,” said Randy Drazba, the group’s organizer. Drazba started the military banners four years ago with co-chairman Larry Elliot. Several other members […]Read More »

Share Your MarionMade! Story

Click Here to share your story about MarionMade! people, places, products, and programs!
  • Get Involved
  • About
  • Events
  • People
  • Places
  • Products
  • Programs
  • Links
  • Contact

Marion Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Downtown Marion Love INC Marion Public Library Marion Area Chamber of Commerce Marion CANDO! Marion Community Foundation United Way of Marion County Marion Technical College

© 2026 · MarionMade! is a community initiative led by Marion Technical College · Website is powered by Neighborhood Image