URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — As graduation season kicks off, thousands of students nationwide are preparing to receive their diplomas, with U of I’s ceremony set for May 17. However, a select few have already marked this milestone.

Nearly a dozen adults from lower-income backgrounds have been engaging in regular classes as part of the Odyssey Project throughout the school year. This group meets with U of I faculty twice a week to delve into subjects such as history, philosophy, art, and literature.

“Entering a traditional college program can be costly and daunting. We aim to create a supportive and safe transitional environment for these learners,” explained Kate Spies, the program’s academic advisor.

One of those people is Nicolette Riffel, who’s been getting involved across Champaign-Urbana after experiencing homelessness and working with CU At Home.

“My life kind of turned into a roller coaster ride the last 10 years,” she described in February.

Now, she has a job, education and goals for the future. She plans to get her commercial driver’s license (CDL) soon, so that she can drive in the winter and farm in the summer.

Progress like that is one of the goals.

“I really enjoyed all of my courses. I did ace all my classes, naturally,” Riffel said with a smile.

Hearing stories like that makes advisors like Spies happy and motivated to keep going.

“It’s just a day of celebration,” Spies said. “It’s about everybody’s hard work, perseverance, and just the luck we all had in getting to this day.”

Next steps for many students include taking additional classes at the U of I, Parkland College or Eastern Illinois University.

If you’re interested in enrolling in Odyssey classes, registration for summer informational classes is open now.