It's a Tuesday night in the Walker Building. About 40 people shuffle in and take out their notebooks, getting comfortable in their seats while someone in the back asks a neighbor for last week's notes.

This is not the average college class.

This becomes apparent as an energetic instructor jokes around as he sets up along the side of every table bins with different-sized glasses, utensils and liquor bottles filled with colored water.

It's another night of the Association of Collegiate Entrepreneurs (ACE) bartending class -- a program designed to teach Penn State students and community members how to bartend.

Cubby Bair, the ACE instructor, said his program is designed to teach more than just the science of mixing drinks, but how to be a smart bartender as well.

"You learn way more than bartending here with Cubby," Bair said. "I teach responsible serving. This class does not advocate binge drinking at all."

Bair is considered somewhat of a legend among his students.

Alyssa Owens (freshman-political science) said Bair's blunt remarks and jovial personality keep his classroom entertaining.

"Cubby makes the class go by so quickly because he's so funny," Owens said. "You can tell that he really knows what he's taking about, though, and I'm learning it a lot faster than I thought I would."

The ACE bartending class runs for 10 weeks each semester and ends with a written exam held during the last week of instruction. Passing the exam means earning a certification in bartending that is recognized anywhere in the country.

"This is my 24th year teaching this class," Bair said. "After my first semester, I went to a State College Borough Council meeting, and they approved the certification for the State College Borough. Then I went to a Las Vegas bartending convention, and they liked what I was doing so much, they unanimously voted that the certificate is good anywhere in the country."

Cassandra Oliver (sophomore-communications) said Bair makes learning easy through his way of teaching.

"He explains everything so thoroughly and tells us why we're doing each step," Oliver said. "Then he does a demonstration and we do it, so it's very hands-on, which is a help."

Bair said he makes sure everyone has the drink down to an exact science before he moves on in his lectures. After reciting how to make the drink out loud, each one of the "bartenders" in the classroom uses the different-colored waters to mix a sample drink for Bair. During one of his classes, Bair said, he gives his class a few minutes to look over their notes from the previous week before warning them that "all hell is about to break loose."

After five minutes in a Tuesday class, Bair told the class: "It's time to play." He then rattled off a list of drinks he wanted each table to make.

Teams of four sat at each table, conferencing with each other over what makes a drink "neat" and what makes up a martini.

"I never let four guys sit at one table," Bair said. "Guys don't listen. I make sure there's at least one girl, because girls listen and guys don't."

After a few minutes, each team lined up four drinks at the end of the table, ready for Bair's critical eye. Teams quickly learn if their drinks were successful or not, because if the color doesn't seem right to Bair's eye, he dumps the offending drink across the table.

"The only place you'll find sympathy from me will be between s--- and syphilis in the dictionary," Bair said, which caused the class to laugh.

Owens said she thinks the $125 fee for the class is a great value for all of the information she's getting.

"I'll more than make up what I paid for it this summer in tips," she said. "From what I've heard, other classes can run up to $800, and I'm learning so much."

Bair said he believes in teaching students every trick of the trade he knows.

"The whole success is when students get here, they think it's all just mixing drinks, but there's a whole lot more," he said. "Here they learn about liquor licenses, bar management, liquor liability."

Oliver said she thinks having Bair for a teacher will be a distinct advantage when she goes to get a job.

"I think Cubby Bair is the most amazing man I've ever met," she said with a laugh. "He's so energetic, and I like the fact that he's been in the business for so long, so he's got great connections, which is really going to help us when we're going to get jobs."

Bair said this is the first year there's been a waiting list for the class, which meets once a week. Students can choose to attend from 6 to 8 p.m. or 8 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

"Everything I teach is for a reason," Bair said. "When Penn State came to me and asked me to teach the class, I said to them I'm expensive, but I'm good. They'll catch hell during class and get a week's rest before coming to Cubby again, but I guarantee they'll be good at what they do."