In March, I snagged an interesting image of Joe and Tamara, students in UW-Madison’s Odyssey Project, during their visit to the Chazen Museum.

That evening at the museum was all about quiet reflection and contemplation. In contrast, tonight’s graduation ceremony was filled with well-earned exultation and full-bore jubilation.

Odyssey is a unique program in American higher education and it represents The Wisconsin Idea at its best, opening the door to college for people who have faced significant life challenges.

Tonight, graduates shared poems, personal stories, and other readings,  touching on themes of discrimination, poverty, homelessness, immigration, gender identification, and more.

There were a few tears, lots of laughs, and plenty of hootin’ and hollerin’ from proud family and friends in the audience.

More on Flickr:

https://flic.kr/p/FYo5En