PORT TOWNSEND — Writer David Sedaris’ visit, to the Port Angeles High School auditorium, 304 E. Park Ave. in Port Angeles at 7 p.m. Wednesday, is a benefit for the Jefferson Clemente Course in the Humanities. This international program offers free college courses — in subjects ranging from art history to writing to U.S. history and beyond — to students who otherwise couldn’t afford such classes.
Applications are being accepted now for the 2013 Clemente classes, to start Jan. 3 at the newly remodeled Port Townsend Library Learning Center, aka the Pink House at 1256 Lawrence St. Abundant information about the application process — and about Sedaris’ reading — is at www.JeffersonClemente.org.
Academic director Lela Hilton encourages potential students to send in their applications soon; applicants are also urged to phone her at 360-732-0007 or email hiltonl@olympus.net.
In general, classes meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. January through mid-June. Each class is limited to 25 students.
If would-be students have any special considerations, Hilton added, they should call her to discuss them.
“I’m very flexible,” she said.
To take these humanities courses, a student must be 17 or older, be able to read a newspaper in English and belong to a household with income that is no more than 150 percent of the poverty level. Students do not need a high school diploma or equivalent.
All tuition, books, childcare and transportation costs are covered free for qualified students, Hilton noted.
The Jefferson Clemente Course is accredited by Bard College, and successful students receive transferable college credits.