Goodwill’s Excel Center Removes Barriers, Rebuilds Confidence

By Kelsey Knott • Photos By Kathryn Harrington

In June, 107 graduates walked across the Southern High stage, achieving a dream that may have once seemed out of reach. The Goodwill Kentucky Excel Center® awarded high school diplomas to adults of various ages and lifestyles–some parents, many working, and all setting out to unlock new doors to their futures.

The Goodwill Kentucky Excel Center, a tuition-free adult high school, is in the business of rebuilding confidence as it removes barriers and dreams bigger alongside those who thought their chance of receiving their diploma was behind them. Those enrolling often have work and family responsibilities to consider; the average student’s age is 31. With certified teachers and life coaches available for questions, tutoring, and makeup work, the center provides accelerated courses on a flexible, personalized schedule for high school credit, as well as daycare for pre-school aged children. Dr. Marsha Berry, director of the Goodwill Kentucky Excel Center, celebrated 40 years with Goodwill this year. After retiring as vice president of Career Services, she returned to open up the first Excel Center in Kentucky. “Life coaches are part of our secret sauce. I would say anybody that left school as a young person probably had some barriers. Our whole approach is to dream bigger.” Students choose the teacher or life coach who will present their diploma to them at graduation, honoring the impact that person made on their educational journey.

While receiving their diploma is certainly a milestone, it’s often not the final goal for Excel Center graduates, as their viewpoint on their futures has shifted to account for more education. The school has many partners, such as JCTC, Hands2Heart, the Salvation Army, and Knight Welding, creating connections for certifications and considering the preparation for the days and months after graduation night. For example, students hoping to attend college may receive help filing FAFSA paperwork at the Goodwill Kentucky Excel Center, or students needing certifications or credentials for their prospective career may receive access to those resources through a myriad of Goodwill Kentucky programs and partnerships.

Recent graduate Dakota Moore shared her journey of finding the Excel Center after being homeschooled. “I never saw myself getting any kind of degree. I never got the school experience or the social interaction, and I feel like this place has helped me grow and blossom, even socially.” After testing at a third-grade level at orientation, Moore graduated with a 3.8 GPA as well as a phlebotomy certification, and she attributes her success to the family-like atmosphere the Excel Center fosters. “The teachers, life coaches, and students always want to see each other succeed, and we formed a bond we’ll always have. Eventually, you do the work you need to do to walk across that stage… You come in here lost, and when you leave, you’re a whole new person, and you know who you are.” Moore found family in ways she never thought she would and saw worlds start to open up, freeing her from the “stuck” feeling she had before.

Romie Cooper, another recent graduate, describes the Goodwill Kentucky Excel Center as “a safe haven for everyone.” Known to show up early and stay late, Cooper recounts the love he was shown when he fearfully took the first step to show up to orientation at almost 40 years old. “It was always like coming home. I love this place, I love the people here. Everybody plays a part inside of this building.” Sixteen months after starting, Cooper proudly holds not only a high school diploma, but also certifications in CPR, ServSafe, and first aid. He has dreams of becoming a chef. Winding up in Louisville after a sober living program, Cooper understood the challenge he faced in balancing work and education after being out of school for over 20 years. “I knew the world progressed without me. My mother and baby sister were murdered when I was 14. Dropping out wasn’t because I wasn’t brought up right; it was the fact that I didn’t have time to grieve my loved ones and cope.” He found hope and motivation from experiencing the passion and care provided by those working at the Excel Center. On graduation night, his family made the trip from Chicago, immensely proud of what he overcame to achieve this success. “To see the smiles on their faces was phenomenal. It was an outburst of happiness and sadness, looking around that room, seeing all the support and supporting those with no support because you’re not here alone. I don’t think I’ll experience anything in my life as great as that moment.” Cooper started Chefs for Success culinary classes through Sullivan, on track to receive culinary and managerial certifications. “I’ve got so many opportunities coming at me.”

Learn more and enroll at goodwillkyexcelcenter.org, or get in touch with your local Goodwill Kentucky Opportunity Center for more extensive services and resources.