By Patsy Joyner

Spring semester began Monday with the excitement of a new year and new opportunities. Following are three special activities currently under way.

Online English course for homeschooled families

This freshman online dual-enrollment course geared to homeschooled students 16 years of age or older is taught from a classical education perspective by instructor Mary Ellen Gleason, who homeschooled for 22 years.

A 3-credit class, ENG 111: English Composition I, introduces students to critical thinking and the fundamentals of academic writing. Through the writing process, students refine topics; develop and support ideas; investigate, evaluate, and incorporate appropriate resources; edit for effective style and usage; and determine appropriate approaches for a variety of contexts, audiences, and purposes. Writing activities include exposition and argumentation, with at least one researched essay.

Registration continues until class begins on Feb. 1. For additional information, contact instructor Gleason at mgleason@pdc.edu or 569-6740.

Arts of Hapkido & Kumdo sessions

Several six-week Hapkido and Kumdo sessions are scheduled for spring semester. Hapkido is a traditional Korean mixed martial art, which combines all of the strikes used in Karate, Tae Kwon Do and kickboxing with the submission techniques found in Jujitsu and Aikido. Kumdo is the Korean art of the sword and combines traditional sword techniques along with sport sword competition training.

Each session is offered at the college’s Regional Workforce Development Center on 100 North College Drive in Franklin on Tuesdays — 6-7:10 p.m. for beginners and 7:15–8:30 p.m. for advanced students. Beginners will have earned anything from no color belt up to orange belt. Advanced will have earned from a green belt up to black belt.

Session options include Jan. 18 to Feb. 22; March 1to April 5; or April 12 to May 17. Taught by Master Barrett Crook, each session costs $45. For more details, call 569-6050.

PTK Coat Drive

PDCCC’s Omega Zeta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society is working with local organizations to help sponsor a coat drive for this cold winter season. Established through contact with local organizations, which report a desperate need for coats at this time, this special project was chosen by PTK members as a way to help the community by making the winter more bearable for those who are suffering.

The Chapter is collecting new or gently used infant and plus-sized coats, though all donations are welcomed and encouraged. Collection box locations include the Student Lounge at the Hobbs Suffolk Campus, the Student Success Center at the Franklin Campus and outside the Student Lounge at the College’s Smithfield Center.

Launched on Jan. 10, the Coat Drive will continue through Jan. 24. For more information, contact Kimberly Holmes at kholmes0002@email.vccs.edu or Zachary Gurganus at zcg21@email.vccs.edu.

For information on other opportunities available through PDCCC, visit www.pdc.edu.