LOUISVILLE, KY. – Goodwill Industries of Kentucky’s tuition-free high school for adults, The Excel Center®, will hold its second graduation ceremony on Friday, December 8, from 6-8 p.m. at New Century Fellowship Christian Church, located at 1875 Farnsley Rd., Louisville, KY 40216.
The ceremony will honor 14 students who have taken advantage of the resources available at The Excel Center® and completed the requirements necessary to graduate with a state-accredited high school diploma.
Goodwill President and CEO Amy Luttrell, Goodwill Chief External Affairs Officer and Excel Center Superintendent DeVone Holt, Deputy Mayor of Louisville Metro Barbara Sexton Smith and Deputy Secretary of KY Education and Labor Cabinet Beth Brinly will share words of encouragement during the ceremony. Norton Healthcare Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Renee Murphy will offer a keynote speech.
In Kentucky, there are more than 300,000 working-age adults 18 years old or older who have not completed high school or earned an equivalent certification. Their median annual earnings are $18,137 compared to the $25,191 per year that adults with a high school diploma earn.
The Excel Center® – located at 6203 Preston Highway in Louisville – is open to these individuals free of charge. It meets students where they are in life and offers a unique environment that caters to the life demands they now face as adults. To help its adult students succeed in earning their diplomas, The Excel Center® features:
- Flexible eight-week class schedules
- Free on-site childcare by way of YMCA of Greater Louisville
- Transportation assistance
- Industry-recognized certification options
- Life coaches who help graduates transition into college or meaningful careers
The concept of The Excel Center® was initiated by Goodwill Education Initiatives, Inc., a not-for-profit organization formed by Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana. Since the first Excel Center began operating in Indianapolis in 2010, 40 schools now operate in nine states and Washington DC. Collectively, they have graduated more than 11,000 students.
To learn more about Kentucky’s Excel Center, visit GoodwillKYExcelCenter.org.
About Goodwill Industries of Kentucky
Goodwill Industries of Kentucky is a 100-year-old nonprofit organization that operates in 103 of Kentucky’s 120 counties. The organization is committed to using resources from its 67 retail stores to help build pathways out of poverty for individuals who need a hand up in life. In 2022, Goodwill helped place 2,368 Kentuckians into jobs with 877 of its employer partners and inside its own retail stores. Goodwill uses approximately 90 cents from every dollar generated in its retail stores to operate programs and services that help Kentucky’s hardest-to-serve job seekers build the life they desire.