For more than 50 years, Omega School has been a crucial part of the Madison community in working to enable people who did not graduate from high school to earn HSEDs or GEDs to help them build towards the next stage of their life. Last Thursday, the Omega School celebrated twenty three graduates who received their diplomas to close out the year, and the night was filled with joy while sharing in their accomplishment.
Oscar Mireles, executive director and principal at Omega School, was sure to mention that although students gave plenty of appreciation to the staff, it is their own effort that should be recognized.
“Where the miracles come from at Omega, are from the students that we have,” Mireles said at the Goodman South Madison College Campus celebration. “The first day they come, I get to meet them, and it’s just a joy. I say I can see where they’re going. I can see their future. I can see them graduating, and they’re looking at me like I’m crazy. I say, ‘You can do this because there’s one person holding you back, and it’s not me.’ Once they sort of figure that out, it’s a joy and you see them grow, you see them change.”
All the students present at the celebration had their time at the podium for anything from stories to a simple thanks. Some, such as Carl Hunter, recounted the pivotal parts of their journey that eventually led them to Omega School through struggles ranging from disengaging with school and getting into trouble early on, to homelessness and addiction.
“Yesterday I turned 64,” said Hunter. “If there were some people still living they wouldn’t believe it, like dang look at Carl up there with a cap and gown. A lot of people wouldn’t have thought that I would have made it this far. I know a lot of people didn’t make it this far.”
Many also gave thanks to family and supporters who made efforts to earn their degree possible, and generational journeys were also recognized in some cases such as Markesia Williams who was joined by her mother who previously graduated from the Omega School. Omega School staff and former students also joined in on celebrating the graduates and some such as Rachel Byington also shared stories of their own personal journey through education after receiving a GED or HSED.
Fellow Omega School staff Joe Garcia reflected on coming from a more corporate environment and being unsure of the school and Mireles’ methods, but soon came to see how impactful putting faith and resources into people can be.
“All that communication that we did out there just to let you know that we care about you and want you back, and to succeed,” Garcia said. “You guys did just that. All that paid off. All that learning that I got through Oscar and through you folks, I became a better educator.”
The night ended on a positive note as families and friends got to celebrate their graduates and inspiration flowed throughout the space.
A full list of graduates includes Mawuli Affi Akouete, Gabriel Coen, Breanna Edmond, Jawan Gipson-Richmond, Sheanna Green, Carl Hunter, Brayan Jiminez Arevalo, Ashley Jones, Bao Khang, Emmanuel Medina Flores, Norma Morales Flores, Andres Sanabria Velasquez, Elsa Smith, Demetria Umlauf, Ashley Vang, Markesia Williams, Donjah Willis, and Shani Young.
