It is brief but moving. You can find it (if I haven’t screwed this up) at:
The three grads who spoke (or in one case interviewed a trustee) were impressive enough, but I loved the pictures showing the cohort of other Odyssey scholars. All races and genders are well-represented. These kids may be humble of origin, but their intelligence and vitality is anything but humble.
As Dean Boyer eloquently pointed out, the University has from its origins espoused the guiding principles of meritocracy and democracy. It has always been about attracting the gifted from wherever they can be found. Harper himself felt it was essential to back those ambitions up with scholarship programs to bring in talented kids of modest background (I benefitted from this myself nearly sixty years ago). That was unusual at the time.
The principled vision of the anonymous donor who established these Odyssey scholarships builds on that legacy. The very fact of his anonymity suggested to Boyer an inherent aspect of a Chicago education - that it puts the emphasis on the abilities of each individual without regard for family or social markers. We are each to be known by our accomplishments. As Odysseus said, “my name is no one”. That motto is inscribed on the special medal struck some years ago to honor the program and its founder (affectionately known as Homer). The medal depicts the courageous and restless spirit of Odysseus presided over by the goddess Athena, the goddess of Wisdom but also the goddess of Justice. This, says Boyer, is the aspirational ideal of the University of Chicago and the Odyssey program.
The Class of 2021 contained 267 Odyssey scholars. May they and all the grads of the College go forth and bravely fight the battle of life.