overcoming adversity and achieving dreams through higher education
Our alums remind us that returning home isn’t easy, and successes are sometimes interrupted by setbacks. Ongoing support is key to making sure the good days outnumber the bad. Our new Odyssey Beyond Bars Success Coach, Mike Exum, helps students navigate the inevitable struggles of reentry and provides a voice of encouragement in tough times.
In fall 2023, veterans can start a new UW Odyssey Project course tailored to them. Read about the program and learn how to apply now!
Each month, people gather in Madison to watch storytellers match “wits and words” at The Moth StorySLAM competitions, and Odyssey students and alumni are often found not only in the audience but in the stage’s spotlight as well. This year, Odyssey student Marisol Gonzalez was among 10 finalists who earned a coveted spot in the …
Since 2015, more than 160 graduates of UW–Madison's Odyssey Project's core course have earned additional college credits through its sister program, Onward Odyssey. Two of its students share their experience with the program — and what they'd like to do next.
“I didn’t realize that my products were both going to be my platform and my vessel to care for people,” Jasmine Banks told Madison Magazine this past April, describing how she created her business following her mother’s cancer diagnosis. “It didn’t dawn on me that these products were now a different way for me to …
“The transition from military life back into the civilian world is a lot more difficult than most people realize,” said Joe Robinson, Army veteran and alum of Odyssey’s very first graduating class. “Odyssey is life changing in so many different ways. The opportunity to have a program that plants a seed for anyone from any …
Madison’s mayor proclaimed October 12, 2022, to be “Odyssey Day” in recognition of our 20 years of changing lives. Instead of holding a regular Wednesday evening class, the Class of 2023 traveled again by bus to the UW campus, this time joining with hundreds of alumni, supporters, and community members in the Great Hall of …
What a magical evening we had last Sunday at American Players Theatre seeing A Raisin in the Sun with 70 Odyssey students, alumni, staff, and guests! Current student Aida, whose nine-year-old son loved attending the play with her, treasured the story of Mama’s strength in the face of bigotry. “It reminded me of the presence …
For the first time since 2019, we resumed our annual tradition of taking 30 new Odyssey students by bus from South Madison to the UW campus. The first stop was Union South, where the Wiscard office stayed open late to help students get photo ID cards. “It’s official now!” posted Mark on Facebook, holding his …
Congratulations to Duke Ellington, a German shorthair pointer, for achieving certification by the Alliance of Therapy Dogs and for making progress towards becoming a Canine Good Citizen! Owner-trainer Brian Benford, Odyssey alum and full-time success coach, notes, “I hold high expectations for Duke. After all, he is named after one of our greatest jazz masters. …