Reception celebrates 45 years of outstanding adult students

In 1981, the first Outstanding Undergraduate Returning Adult Student Award (OURASA) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison was presented to just one recipient, Sally Peterson, a civil water engineer and single mother of three children. Forty-five years later, UW–Madison continues to celebrate its returning adult students.

On April 24, faculty, staff, donors, family members and friends gathered at Memorial Union to recognize dozens of returning adult learners of various backgrounds and educational experiences. 

The Outstanding Adult Student Celebration and Reception honors returning adult students who are continuing or completing their undergraduate and graduate degrees while juggling work, family and other commitments of adult life. For many of these students, their study at UW–Madison represented years — and even decades — of overcoming a host of challenges, from self-doubt that they could ever return to college to health issues, financial setbacks and life’s unexpected twists and turns.

In his welcoming remarks during this year’s reception, Martin Rouse, associate dean and director of Adult Career at Special Student Services, highlighted the extraordinary perseverance and contributions of adult learners at UW–Madison.

“Many of you being honored have balanced so much in your journey — careers, military service, raising children, caring for family and yourselves, volunteering and countless other responsibilities — all while excelling academically,” he said. “Your accomplishments are nothing short of inspiring.”

Rouse noted that returning adult students enrich the UW–Madison campus community. “Adult learners bring diverse perspectives, wisdom from life experience, and a passion for learning that energizes our classrooms,” he explained. “You serve as role models for your peers, your family and even for faculty, showing us all the true meaning of dedication.” 

Hosted by the Office of Student Assistance and Support and the Adult Career and Special Student Services (ACSSS) program of the Division of Continuing Studies, this year’s event celebrated 68 students. Recognized for their accomplishments were two OURASA award winners and four finalists, 42 scholarship recipients, and 20 former Badger Ready program students who had recently transferred or graduated. (Financial support for scholarships and awards comes from various organizations and private donors.)

Thanks to photographer Sharon Vanorny for the following pictures of these exceptional returning adult students.

“Badger Ready was an opportunity that I never thought I would be able to have,” said Jared Araiza, who completed the program and is now a transfer student at UW–Madison majoring in anthropology. “I would like to thank everybody at Badger Ready for being absolutely amazing,” He added. “I would also like to thank my friends and family, who have been immensely supportive, my parents most importantly. It’s been a long journey, but I’m proud you have been in my corner every step of the way.”  

Avenash Pernankil left a career in the service industry to pursue his true calling: social work. Now, on the verge of earning his master’s degree, Pernankil thanked his wife, the donors and the Badger Ready program for “making it a reality for people like me to reimagine what’s possible in our lives.” He noted, “I am really proud to have studied social work because at its core, it’s about uplifting your community and fighting for a more just and connected world. I just want to thank you all for being part of that vision.”

The recipient of two returning adult scholarships, Jordan Hynum started her academic journey at Madison Area Technical College in 2016. Now she’s a proud UW–Madison junior working toward a degree in marketing. After thanking her parents, partner and boss for their support, Hynum also thanked the scholarship donors. “Being an online student and being an adult going back to school can feel isolating,” she said. “Those donors, I thought about them in every single moment that I felt I couldn’t do it. Those thoughts kept me motivated, inspired, and I am so, so proud to stand here today.”

After serving 15 years in the U.S. Army as a special forces medic, Doug Kieler and his wife found themselves at a crossroads after he was medically discharged and they both relocated to a new state. Now both are pursuing higher education. Doug is in medical school and hopes to continue his role serving others as a physician. “You have no idea when you step into a new world what those challenges [will be],” Kieler said. “Things like tonight make such a big difference. It’s so great to be able to hear everyone else’s stories … and knowing that so many people share that same experience.”

Years ago, when Francesca Nimityongskul was deciding whether to go to graduate school or have children, the decision was made for her when her grad school application was rejected. “I never thought I could have both,” she said from the stage, where one of her three daughters joined her. She applied again and is now a graduate student in the biomedical data science program. She thanked the donors, noting, “It’s totally nerve-wracking to be home and drain your bank account going for a degree when you know you could be working.” She recalled the particular challenges of being a student while parenting, including the time she had to bring her children with her to class. “Being in school as a parent really teaches your children perspective and patience and shows them determination,” she added. “I think it’s good for the children, too.”

Also joined on stage by her young daughter, Yolanda Pushetonequa introduced herself to the audience in her tribal language. A member of the Meskwaki Nation (Sac and Fox Tribe of Iowa), Pushetonequa is pursuing her PhD in linguistics, where she’s addressing barriers to teaching her tribal language. “Our language is critically endangered,” she explained. “My dream is to build pedagogical grammar and teaching and language materials to support the community language movement back at home in central Iowa.” A first-generation student, Pushetonequa decided that once she became a parent to her daughter, “somehow I decided I could do it all.”

The event culminated with the presentation of the 2025 Outstanding Undergraduate Returning Adult Student Award to Ivanna Ceballos (above center) and Chikara Crooks (top image). You can learn more about their stories in this recent article. 

Ceballos said that returning to school had been anything but easy. “Like many of us who take the nontraditional path, my academic journey was not linear.” After working for eight years, she returned to the classroom, all while balancing family responsibilities, financial challenges, and, at times, personal safety and survival. “I’m proud to say I’ll be starting a master’s program this fall, and if all goes as planned, I’ll begin law school here next year, too,” Ceballos said. “I hope to become an immigration attorney helping families like mine navigate systems that shape their lives,” she added to loud applause from the crowd.  

She said that her award felt like more than recognition: “It feels like affirmation that I’m on the right path.” Cabellos concluded by saying she shared the award with every adult student who took the risk to return to college. 

“We are proof that it’s never too late to rewrite your story.”