Nick and Deborah Carpenter have participated in Allan Hancock College Community Education art classes together for 20 years. Among their many creative projects, the couple created the wedding bands they later exchanged on their wedding day while participating in jewelry-making classes taught by Anthony Guzman. Photo courtesy of Allan Hancock College.
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SANTA MARIA — For the past 20 years, Nick and Deborah Carpenter have shared a tradition that has become an important part of their lives: taking Community Education art classes together at Allan Hancock College.
Over two decades, the couple has explored a variety of creative pursuits through the college’s tuition-free art offerings, developing new skills while building lasting memories. Among their most meaningful projects were creating the rings they later exchanged on their wedding day.
The rings symbolize more than their marriage. They also represent years of creativity, learning and shared experiences in the classroom.
Many of those experiences took place in jewelry-making classes taught by Community Education instructor Anthony Guzman, whose classes have helped students develop technical skills while expressing their creativity through handcrafted pieces.
Over the years, the couple has participated in a variety of Community Education art classes, discovering new creative interests while continuing to learn together. Their experience reflects the opportunities available through Allan Hancock College’s growing selection of tuition-free arts courses, which welcome students of all skill levels and backgrounds.
For Nick and Deborah, Community Education classes have provided an opportunity to learn together, meet others who share similar interests and remain engaged in a lifelong passion for the arts.
“This story reflects what Community Education is all about,” said Alicia Paniagua, Dean of Community Education at Hancock. “Our classes provide opportunities for lifelong learning, creativity and personal enrichment while helping build meaningful connections within our community.”
Community Education offers a wide range of tuition-free arts courses designed to help adults explore their creativity and develop new skills. Current offerings include jewelry making, sewing, floral design, watercolor, photography, urban sketching, art journaling, mixed media, painting with pastels, image transfer art applications and other creative arts courses. Many students return semester after semester to continue learning, connect with fellow artists and pursue lifelong interests.
For some students, the classes provide an opportunity to try something new. For others, like the Carpenters, they become a meaningful part of life for decades.
For more information about AHC Community Education, visit https://www.hancockcollege.edu/communityed/