Special Events and Programs
We offer our members learning opportunities and support the MPC community through a variety of unique activities, a scholarship program, and an eclectic book club. Keep reading for more information on each of these. You are sure to find something interesting.
Recent and Upcoming Events
The Gentrain Society sponsors several Special Events throughout the year to provide opportunities for cultural enrichment while meeting new friends and sharing the fun of group activities. They include day trips to performances, exhibitions, lectures, and demonstrations in Monterey and the surrounding area, as well as social gatherings. They are arranged on an ad hoc basis, according to opportunity and the interests of our members. There is no set schedule, but 4 to 6 events are normally held each year. Participation is usually restricted to members of the Society and are either free or charged at cost.
Scholarships
The Gentrain Society Scholarship Program is administered by the Gentrain Scholarship Committee in partnership with the MPC Financial Aid Office. It is designed to serve students over age 30, many of whom come back to college to enhance their workplace skills. The number and amount of scholarships varies from year to year, depending on need and available funding. A special scholarship is available for someone who as completed at least three units of the Gentrain class with a grade of “B” or higher.
Since 1991, we have awarded more than $450,000 has been awarded to over 400 deserving students. How about making a gift to the Scholarship Fund yourself?
To get started send an email to The Scholarship Committee.
Book Club
This group is designed for bibliophiles, the sort whose best friends are books and those who love talking about them.
Everyone is welcome. Gentrain Society membership is optional. The only requirement is that you do the reading before each meeting and engage in the conversation. Life is short. So many books, so little time. Why not read the best? To join the Book Club contact Gerry Kapolka.
Planned Readings
Gerry Kapolka received his undergraduate degree from St. John’s College with its Great Books program. After studying for a year at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, he went on to receive his Ph.D. in Slavic languages and literatures from The University of Chicago. He has taught English, World literature, and general humanities at Rhode Island College, St. Mary’s College in Michigan, MPC, Wagner College, and Rutgers University. For the past 23 years he has taught English at Santa Catalina School, serving eventually as Chair of the English department and Dean of Academics. He retired in June, 2018 and spent the winter semester as a senior lecturer at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. He has published three book length translations of Polish literature and numerous articles, book reviews, and translations in a variety of academic journals and anthologies.
| Dates | Author | Title |
|
26 June 3 July 10 July 17 July 24 July 31 July 7 August 14 August 21 August 2 October 9 October 16 October 23 October 30 October 6 November 13 November 20 November |
Goethe Goethe Goethe Goethe Goethe Goethe Goethe Goethe Goethe Gabriel Garcia Marquez Marquez Marquez Marquez Marquez Marquez Marquez Marquez |
Faust, Part One “Dedication” through “Outside the City Gate” “Faust’s Study II” through “Auerbach’s Cellar” “Witch’s Kitchen” through “At the Well” “Shrine at the Ramparts” through end of Part One Faust, Part Two Act I Act II Act III Act IV Act V One Hundred Years of Solitude, through p. 58 “The new house, white,” through p. 101 “Colonel Aureliano Buendia organized…” through p. 159 “Colonel Gerineldo Marquez…” through p. 222 “Dazzled by so many…” through p. 267 “Meme’s last vacation…” through p. 313 “It rained for four years” through p. 375 “Amaranta Ursula returned” through end |
