Darneisha Virginia and Nury Plascencia, two of four College Possible students Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service followed in a series of articles that began when they were high school seniors, received their diplomas at a Saturday graduation ceremony at Mount Mary University.

With blessings from the university’s School Sisters of Notre Dame and applause, joyful shouts and a few tears from parents, grandparents, siblings and friends, they and their classmates completed their undergraduate careers.

Virginia and Plascencia earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in social work and justice, respectively, in four years.