Odyssey Updates
The latest happenings in the Odyssey program and community
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Sparking enthusiasm and confidence
Eager faces. Tentative voices. Nervous laughter. Odyssey Beyond Bars (OBB) offers noncredit courses in the summer at Columbia, Racine, Taycheedah and Waupun Correctional Institutions. Each site’s offerings are slightly different, but the…
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Roused to Action
Mary Rouse served as Dean of Students from 1987-2000 as part of her nearly half century of employment at UW. As director of the Morgridge Center for Public Service, she worked to…
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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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Odyssey’s advisor shares the rules of the game
Odyssey students who had Carrie Bohman as their Social Studies teacher at Madison West High School do a double take when they enter Odyssey’s classroom a few years later and see her…
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Introducing our Program Manager, Em Azad
Although it has been over two years since Em lost her father, she continues to struggle to handle her parents’ estate. Holding back tears, she notes, “Before January 2023, I don’t think…
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Leaving a Legacy
We mark August as “National Make a Will Month” by profiling one of our donors who has earmarked funds for Odyssey. “I know that by leaving 75% of my estate to Odyssey…
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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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Spring Happenings in Odyssey Junior
Odyssey Junior celebrates beautiful moments “I can’t wait for Wednesdays when I get to attend Mommy’s school,” says one of our Odyssey Junior kids. While the adults attend class, their children —…
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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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Dr. Keith Meyer’s Story
An Interview with Odyssey supporter Dr. Keith Meyer Why have you chosen to donate so much money to the Odyssey Project? I have watched this wonderful program grow and flourish over…
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Why Vote? A Celebration of Voting Event 2024
“Why vote?” asked Odyssey alum Blanca Laine, calling on fellow indigenous people to exercise a freedom denied their ancestors. In an effort to encourage increased voter participation and the understanding of voting,…
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Zawadi’s Family Story
“The eldest daughter of two refugees from South Sudan who escaped from war, I am a first-generation American who is proud of where I came from,” notes Odyssey Junior graduate Zawadi. Thanks…
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Marking the dog days
See our photo gallery below celebrating Duke and a team of guest therapy dogs who listen patiently and non-judgmentally to Odyssey Junior children reading. Thanks to Go Team Therapy Dogs for frequent…
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Keeping up with the Joneses
As this summer ends, Sanford Jones congratulates a granddaughter just offered one of the 30 coveted spots in the new Odyssey Class of 2025 set to begin in September. Sanford has a…
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Scholarship superstars
Taken at a Madison Club luncheon for The Business Forum of Madison, the photo above shows four new scholarship winners (from left, Andrea White ‘23, Giana Mason ‘24, Sally Phelps ‘24, and…
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Woman of distinction
Woman of Distinction When she applied for Odyssey in 2009, Keena was homeless and sleeping on the floor of a barbershop with her young son. Fifteen years later, Keena is not only…
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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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Heading to UW in the fall
Anna was nine years old when her mother and uncle completed Odyssey, and she has fond memories of finding her own voice in Odyssey Junior. She was overjoyed to receive an acceptance…
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The Triumphant Class of 2024!
“Thank you, Odyssey,” said Cierra, “for creating an environment where dreams are nurtured and futures are shaped,” and Lucas noted, “Odyssey helped remind me of my worth and power, and I’ll forever…
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A Global Celebration
“I’m glad I could use getting old as an excuse to raise money for the UW Odyssey Project,” quipped 95-year-old Bob Auerbach, “and I plan to do it again for my 100th!”…
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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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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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A Record-Breaking Year
“Superlative” was one of the vocabulary words students learned this year, and we can use many when talking about our record-breaking year: we had the BEST attendance ever for our core class,…
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Pictures of success: A look back at 20 years of the UW Odyssey Project
As the Odyssey Project looks ahead to the next 20 years, we take a look back at the last two decades, in photos.
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Celebrating Odyssey Junior 2023
Our youngest Odyssey students held a graduation celebration all their own last month, with parents, teachers, and community partners cheering them on. Before receiving certificates and gift bags, Odyssey Junior participants shared…
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Remembering Chancellor Blank: A life well lived
“For the rest of my life, I’ll remember how Chancellor Blank treated me with dignity, kindness, and respect,” said Odyssey alum Char Braxton, who attended the chancellor’s memorial service and spoke to…
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UW Odyssey Project celebrates 20 years of transformation through education
When Corey Saffold applied for the UW Odyssey Project in 2005, he had no idea it would change his life. Prior to attending Odyssey — an award-winning University of Wisconsin–Madison educational access…
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Creating a Class Cape with the Chazen
UW–Madison’s Chazen Museum of Art has been a longtime partner of the Odyssey Project, from hosting our 10th and soon, our 20th–anniversary celebration to welcoming Odyssey students to campus for 20 years…
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Odyssey alumni reflect on the power of writing
Five Odyssey alumni share their purpose in their role as writers and the power of using their words to change the world.
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Instructors old and new ponder what makes Odyssey ‘magical’
Jean Feraca, Kevin Mullen, and Erin Celello share insights about the program’s impact and some favorite teaching moments.
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Odyssey Beyond Bars: Communities benefit from prison education program
This article is part of a series celebrating 20 years of the Odyssey Project. Follow along as we remember where we’ve been and look forward to where we’re going. After serving…
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One year out: OBB alum pursues graduate degree, community mentorship
In December 2021, alum Robert Taliaferro had a lot to look forward to. He was celebrating the end of a successful semester with Odyssey Beyond Bars, writing a feature for the Prison…
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Correcting the Narrative: Celebrating community success stories
At Odyssey Beyond Bars, we know that connecting people with high-quality education in prison equips them with tools for lifelong success — and we were thrilled to celebrate some of those successes…
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UW CHEP director’s letter – November 2022
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…
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UW Odyssey Project launches free education initiative for veterans
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!
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From classroom to stage: Odyssey represents in The Moth StorySLAM
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…
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Odyssey Project alums continue learning journey with Onward Odyssey
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…
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From personal to professional: Odyssey’s bazaar returns this holiday season
“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…
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From service to stories: Odyssey beyond wars
“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.…
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An empowering trip on “Odyssey Day”
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…
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A magical evening in Spring Green
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…
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Class of 2023 conquers campus
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,…
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Duke Ellington passes his tests
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…
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