One Champaign program aimed at bringing a college education to everyone celebrated a big milestone today.
The Odyssey Project held it's first graduation ceremony at the Douglass Library.
This is the inaugural year for the project in Champaign-Urbana.
The program provides college courses free of charge to low income students.
Today's graduates say education is the key to a better life and everyone should have that chance.
Graduate, Kim Tate said she knows she has been given a great opportunity as a student in The Odyssey Project.
"I've gained so much insight, a new perspective from their thoughts their ideas," said Tate.
John Marsh is the program coordinator.
He said he wanted to start some sort of community education program in the area but wasn't sure how until he saw the success of The Odyssey Project in Chicago.
"The philosophy is that we try to remove as many barriers as possible," said Marsh.
"There's no tuition, charge for books, child care, we try to get the best professors and do all we can to build that bridge for them."