WASHINGTON–For over 20 years, more than 200 people gathered at Hillsdale College every summer for the Hillsdale Hostel Program. As of last spring, the Hilldale Hostel Program has extended to the Allan P. Kirby Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship in Washington D.C.
The program began during the summer of 1990 exploring the theme of “What is America?” through a lecture series conducted by Hillsdale College professors.
This past spring, the Kirby Center Hostel kicked off the program with the series of lectures on Abraham Lincoln. More than 60 friends of Hillsdale College attended the hostel under the instruction of David Bobb, executive director of citizen education for the Kirby Center. The Kirby Center Hostel plans to host a program every fall and spring semester. During the summer, hostel programs will be hosted at the Hillsdale College main campus.
“The hostel program in itself is completely in line with the college mission statement,” said Peggy Youngs, director of Hillsdale Hostel and Freedom Forum. “The purpose is to foster interest in the Kirby Center and publicly defend [the college’s] legacy.”
In two weeks, the Kirby Center Hostel program conducted by Bobb and Matt Spalding, vice president and dean of educational programs, will cover George Washington. In addition to lectures, a trip is included in the hostel program. This fall, hostel members will take a trip to George Washington’s home, Mt. Vernon.
“We are trying to take advantage of the Kirby Center being in Washington D.C.,” Youngs said. “This is one way to get our friends to our nation’s capitol. There is such a rich history there.”
Although the target audience of these hostel programs are aimed toward friends of Hillsdale College, students are also encouraged to attend the events. The program’s lectures are intentionally designed to align with a Hillsdale College student’s educational experience.
“College friends and constituents of the college are interested to see what is going on in the classroom,” Youngs said. “They are going back to school the Hillsdale way. Our mission is not limited to the traditional student. But I still have people register ranging from early twenties to early eighties.”
Craig Kreinbihl, assistant director of the Kirby Center, thinks that the program’s extension in Washington D.C. is not only a valuable learning opportunity, but also an important facet of the college that should not go unnoticed.
“The Kirby Center Hostel is adding additional offerings to show the reach of the program,” Kreinbihl said. “And that the college isn’t just located in Michigan.”
