Youth Achievements Ceremony celebrates academic success

July 15, 2026Contact: 608-422-7800 or [email protected]

Youth Achievements Ceremony celebrates academic success

MADISON - The 14th annual Youth Achievements Ceremony was held today at the Executive Residence to honor an admirable group of Wisconsin students. Governor Tony Evers and First Lady Kathy Evers joined Department of Children and Families (DCF) Secretary-designee Jeff Pertl in recognizing youth with experience in out-of-home care who recently graduated from high school.

"Every graduation is a milestone, but this ceremony represents something profoundly powerful," said DCF Secretary Jeff Pertl. "It is an opportunity to honor the distinct path each of these young people has walked to get here and to celebrate their incredible self-determination. This milestone is just the beginning of the incredible impact they are going to make on the world."

The 28 graduates who were able to attend the celebration represented the 83 identified youth with experience in out-of-home care throughout Wisconsin who are known to have reached commencement in the 2025-2026 academic year.

Tonisha Hora, youth services program and policy coordinator with DCF and guest speaker, shared her personal and professional connection to today's ceremony with graduates and guests. Hora's lived experience in kinship and foster care shapes her lifelong commitment to supporting young people and improving systems meant to care for them. In addition to her work with DCF, Hora has advocated for child welfare policy reform at the federal level and served as an advisor to Youth Advisory Councils at the state and local level.

For more information on Wisconsin's Independent Living services for youth reaching adulthood, visit our Independent Living page.