About Senior Scholars at Queens
What is Senior Scholars? When & how did Senior Scholars start?
Founded in 1973, Senior Scholars is an organization for seniors and retirees where members meet weekly to hear prominent speakers on a variety of interesting topics. Don’t let the Scholars title scare you. An academic degree is not required, only your interest in learning.
Senior Scholars welcomes retirees to a new learning experience! In Charlotte, senior citizens are known for their vitality, love of learning and desire to give back to their community. This is an organization that offers welcoming fellowship and wonderful opportunities to broaden your intellectual perspective and improve your understanding of international, national, and local issues and subjects of interest.
The views expressed by presenters at Senior Scholars meetings or functions are not necessarily those of Senior Scholars nor our Board of Directors.
Our History: Senior Scholars at Queens from 1972-2020
December 1972, a group of seniors and scholars began an educational venture to launch a program for seniors. With the cooperation of the Urban Studies and Community Service, AARP, the University of NC at Charlotte, and the Charlotte Senior Forum, a format began to form.
On July 5th 1973, a historic meeting was set up launching the tradition of Tuesday mornings spent in learning and fellowship. A permanent advisory committee had been formed with the first successful programs held in the Stultz Building at Queens College.
Support from the then 11 institutes of higher learning in the Charlotte area was enlisted to provide speakers.
The ever-popular Great Decisions series were first held in Myers Park Baptist Church and Dilworth United Methodist Church in 1976.
Now began the relocation of Senior Scholars from Queens to Myers Park Baptist Church. The first social event was held November 30,1976 in Shalom Hall at Myers Park with many more such events to follow.
Wildacres Retreat was planned and discussed for four years before finally taking place in 1980. Every year since, this has been a well-planned and well attended event.
2010 was a year of great change for the organization with attendance exceeding the space at Myers Park Cornwell Center. A committee was formed to explore other possible venues. Queens University graciously offered a meeting place at their new Queens Sport Complex and with a memorandum of understanding, senior scholars were able to continue its stellar programs on a weekly basis.
Growing even more, another move was necessary to accommodate the growing numbers.
Providence United Methodist Church contracted to host Senior Scholars every Friday morning. 2020 membership has surpassed 900 with weekly attendance ranging from 350 to 425.