::UT LAMP™ — OLLI
History of LAMP: Into The 21st Century
By Betty and John Wood
(Written in 2002)
LAMP entered the 21st Century stronger and larger than ever and offered more activities to members. Lectures have continued with the same high quality.
In 1999, LAMP increased in membership to 500. Most people live in the immediate Austin area, but several drive from Wimberley, Luling, San Marcos, Marble Falls, Bastrop, Georgetown, Lakeway, and other surrounding communities. With the increased number of people living longer and desiring to expand their knowledge of the world and to keep informed of current events, the Continuing Education Department at the University of Texas under the guidance of the Dean, Dr. Tom Hatfield, began to expand in the area of Third Age Education.
LAMP assisted through advice and counsel in the organization of SAGE in 1996 and QUEST in the spring of 2001. Each of these groups drew from the LAMP wait list to make contacts for membership. The three organizations together have a membership of 1,000 people with a long wait list for all three groups. Dr. Hatfield established a third-age council to coordinate activities and communication among the three groups. One of the first joint projects was "An Evening with Shakespeare."
