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Odyssey in the news
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The Growth of the Class of 2026
“Odyssey opened my mind, strengthened my confidence, and reminded me that it is never too late to grow, learn, and start a new chapter,” said Jackie (pictured left) of this year’s graduating…
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Award-winning Alumni
More about Albert, Krista, and Hedi Albert Watson, graduate of Odyssey’s Class of 2008, now serves as the interim juvenile court superintendent for Dane County, building on over a decade of work…
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The Class of 2025 Rises
“This was the most amazing and eye-opening experience I have ever had,” said Adrianne, and classmate Mickey noted, “I am grateful that Odyssey built a bridge that helped me return to education.…
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Celebrating our remarkable alumnae
What better time to celebrate Odyssey’s resilient women students than March, known as International Women’s History Month and a time to honor trailblazers? Our own alumnae exemplify the spirit of resilience and…
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Exemplary Lifelong Learner
The Wells Family: A Legacy of Learning Across Generations “Returning to school after a 76-year hiatus is no small feat!” writes Mary Wells, Odyssey Class of 2007, about her 92-year-old mother. “It…
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A Badger Spring – Day of the Badger 2024
Odyssey Rocks Day of the Badger! For the past few years, Odyssey has finished in the top ten on the leaderboard for the Day of the Badger, a spirited day of giving…
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Generations of Impact Through Odyssey
Read the full article here: Badger Talks
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The Power to Change Lives: Two Decades of the UW Odyssey Project
Read the full article here: Badger Talks
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Loving our million-dollar match!
We did it! YOU did it! Odyssey met its million-dollar match goal! We thank Pleasant Rowland and Diane Ballweg for their generosity and our donors for helping ensure Odyssey’s future. We reached…
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Celebrating 30 Years of A Fund for Women
At their annual event on Thursday, May 18, the Madison Community Foundation celebrated 30 years of A Fund for Women, and the Odyssey Project (and alumnus Char Braxton) was prominently featured in…
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Amplifying voices: The UW Madison Odyssey Project
Smith recalls family and friends commenting on her unique ability to express herself in writing, but she did not give it attention. However, the Odyssey program ignited her passion for writing. “I…
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UW Odyssey Project hosts 20th Anniversary Celebration
“I will just tell you real quickly what Odyssey was to me,” Ward explained. “Everybody in here is a seed. If you know anything about seeds, they have everything that they need…
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The Odyssey Project celebrates 20 years
NBC15′s Leigh Mills sat down with Brian Benford, a member of the Odyssey Class of 2007 and a Madison alder, and his therapy dog Duke Ellington. Benford talks about how the project…
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Through newest UW Odyssey Project’s senior program, people rediscover themselves
Brown and Phillips said their age made them feel out of place when they first enrolled in the Odyssey Project more than a decade ago. The younger students seemed to be more…
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UW Odyssey to help veterans transition into college with ‘Beyond Wars’ program
The Odyssey Project will start a new initiative specifically for veterans, named Odyssey Beyond Wars. It joins the project’s umbrella of offerings, which includes the original Odyssey Project, which serves people with…
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UW Odyssey Project launches free education initiative for veterans
Odyssey Beyond Wars focuses on reading and writing in the humanities as a way for students to process their military experience and adjust to civilian life. Through discussions of texts ranging from…
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UW–Madison program helps veterans transition to civilian life
MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Transitioning from military to civilian life can be tough, but there’s a new program through the UW Odyssey Project that aims to help veterans continue their education. Odyssey…
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Why Vote? Voices from the UW Odyssey Project
My vote will tell my children and grandchildren that I stood against corruption and racism and that I don’t ignore the past but learn from it. My vote will tell my friends…
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UW Odyssey Project celebrates 20 years of taking a whole family approach to empowering students
“Here I was in my late 40s and I never thought I would have an opportunity to reach my full potential through education. But because of Odyssey, I was able to do…
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UW Odyssey Project turns 20: Grads recount how it’s changed their lives
“Being in the Odyssey Project had a tremendous impact on my life because it doesn’t end, you don’t just graduate and then boom, you’re just done. I remain connected. The Odyssey Project…
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‘It’s time to exercise that right to vote’: The Odyssey Project prepares students to head to the polls
The Odyssey Project at UW Madison hosted their biennial “Why Vote” event Wednesday, reminding students who are trying to break the cycle of generational poverty their vote matters. The Odyssey Project, now celebrating…
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UW Odyssey Project: 20 years of amplifying student voices
MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Overcoming adversity and achieving their dreams through higher education — it’s what many students have successfully done over the past 20 years through the UW–Madison Odyssey Project. Wednesday,…
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Odyssey celebrates 20 years of helping non-traditional students
MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – An organization celebrated 20 years of helping non-traditional students receive education, financial help and more. Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway declared today as Odyssey Day. Wednesday night’s celebration focused…
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OBB Alum Shares Personal Journey Via Storytelling
Inside Stories, May 3 2022
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A Turning Point for Prison Education
The Chronicle of Higher Education, May 4 2022
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UW-Odyssey Project Celebrates 19th Graduating Class
Corey Saffold, an Odyssey graduate in 2006, is celebrating receiving his bachelor’s degree this year. Saffold and Co-Director and Founder Emily Auerbach sat down with NBC15 Friday afternoon to talk about the…
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Odyssey Beyond Bars Featured on 93.1 JAMZ
JAMZ Life, April 14 2022
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Former professor, “Odyssey dad” Robert Auerbach receives philanthropy award
“At a November 11 ceremony, Robert “Bob” Auerbach – UW professor emeritus and father of UW Odyssey Project Co-Director Emily Auerbach – accepted a 2021 Outstanding Individual Philanthropist award from the Association…
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Odyssey Project puts Wisconsin Idea into Action
“For over a century, UW–Madison has been guided by the Wisconsin Idea: the principle that higher education should influence and benefit people’s lives outside the traditional boundaries of the classroom. The Odyssey…
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INSIDE STORIES: Otis Harris Jr.
In this episode, Otis shares the moments that shaped his manhood and led him to see himself in a different light. We listen to a story Otis Harris Jr told a few…
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“This one class opened up so many doors.”
Love Wisconsin, August 6 2021
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UW Odyssey Project Class of 2021
Despite battling COVID, deaths of loved ones, homelessness, domestic abuse, parenting stress, lost wages, and physical and mental health challenges, the UW–Madison Odyssey Class of 2021 beat the odds. Thirty-five students graduated…
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The UW-Odyssey Project shines a light on George Floyd’s death
“We linked the George Floyd killing to centuries of racial injustice,” explained Auerbach. The program studied Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Langston Hughes and others. “We link today to what…
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UW program will teach for-credit college courses in Wisconsin prisons
Channel 3000, May 18 2021
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Education Behind and Beyond Bars
Inside Higher Ed, May 18 2021
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Madison Writing Assistance Celebration of Writing 2021: Sharing Stories, Writing for Change
With the Story Exchange, we wanted to create a virtual space where folks could share short stories about their relationship with writing, in the hope that these stories would inspire others to…
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“This class has been heroic and inspiring in their resilience.”
The heartache and the hardship for this class has been overwhelming, but so has the perseverance and the courage, -UW Odyssey Project Director Emily Auerbach tells Madison365. The University of Wisconsin–Madison Odyssey…
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Finding a Voice, against All Odds
“To Corey Saffold, who graduated from the Odyssey Course in 2006, the class’s humanities focus was critical. “You really begin to find your voice in those moments because you’re inspired by [them],”…
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From Odyssey to a Cap and Gown
“In the UW Odyssey Project in Madison, WI, co-director/founder Emily Auerbach and the entire team work to assure that the pathway from the Odyssey classroom to a college degree is as clear and smooth…
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Wisconsin is making progress to help more inmates get college educations – ‘which can completely redefine a life’
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, December 24 2020
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UW’s Tommy Thompson: Turn Wisconsin Prison into College for Inmates
“My ultimate goal — but that’s in a year or two or three years — is to have one prison turn into an educational institution,” Thompson said. “And instead of having a swinging door coming…
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