Sources: Tom Mahoney, 785-532-7202, tmahoney@k-state.edu;
and Karin Westman, 785-532-2190, westmank@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Katie Mayes, 785-532-6415, kmayes@k-state.edu

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

K-STATE STUDENT UNION OFFERING SUMMER WORKSHOPS ON HARRY POTTER, CREATIVE WRITING, INVESTING AND MORE

MANHATTAN -- School may be out for the summer, but area high school students interested in learning more about Harry Potter, writing or business-related topics are in luck.

Kansas State University's K-State Student Union is sponsoring five daylong workshops July 8, 9 and 12. Each workshop costs $100.

The workshops and dates include:

* Creative Writing, Wednesday, July 8: Miranda Asebedo and Sara Mertz, master's graduates in creative writing and Seaton Creative Writing Fellows at K-State, will teach the basics of creative writing, including how to find your voice as a writer. Students also will have the chance to share their work and ideas in a group format.

* Business of Sports, Wednesday, July 8: K-State's Jeffrey Hornsby, Vanier Chair of Innovation and Technology and director of K-State's Center for Entrepreneurship, will discuss how sports teams and events draw so many fans, and how teams connect with fans in this era of sports saturation. Lessons on creating and pitching a business plan also will be part of this class.

* Harry Potter, a Workshop for Muggles, Thursday, July 9: Recent K-State master's graduate and Harry Potter expert Rachel Parkin will guide students through the popular J.K. Rowling series. The workshop is suitable for seasoned Potter fans or newcomers to the series.

* Investing for Fun and Profit, Thursday, July 9: Eric Higgins, head of K-State's department of finance, and D.C. Hackerott, with Edward Jones, will provide the basics of investing and the tools used to assess investment opportunities. Students will be able to develop strategies and try them out on the stock market simulator.

* Bowling Workshop, Sunday, July 12: Rick Steelsmith, a professional bowler and instructor based in Wichita, will work with students on bowling fundamentals such as stance, footwork, arm swing and finishing, and will videotape students to help them identify their weaknesses and strengths as bowlers.

All of the workshops are open to students entering the ninth through 12th grades except for the bowling session, which is for seventh-graders to 12th-graders.

Additional information about the workshops is available at http://www.union.k-state.edu/workshops/