LOUISVILLE, KY. – Goodwill Kentucky celebrated the 2026 graduating class of The Excel Center®—the Commonwealth’s only tuition-free high school for adults ages 18 and older—during a commencement ceremony held on Wednesday at Southern High School in Louisville. The ceremony honored 107 graduates, who completed the requirements for a state-accredited high school diploma, marking the largest graduating class since the school opened in 2022.
“Earning a high school diploma can be life-changing, opening doors to new career opportunities, higher earning potential, and greater economic stability,” said Amy Luttrell, president and CEO of Goodwill Kentucky. “The Excel Center empowers adults to achieve this important milestone by providing the support and flexibility they need to succeed. We are proud of our graduates and the determination they have shown in building brighter futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.”
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and Dr. John Gregory, Executive Director of the Office of Adult Education within the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, joined Goodwill Kentucky in recognizing the graduates and celebrating their achievements.
“Regardless of when you are completing an educational degree, it takes a ton of discipline. It’s never easy,” Greenberg told the students on Wednesday. “Now, give yourself a round of applause, because you didn’t give up. Each of you had the courage to take that step, day after day, hour after hour, course after course, that has led you to this great night of celebration. And tonight is proof that a dream deferred is not a dream denied.”
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. To help address this need, The Excel Center, located at 6203 Preston Highway in Louisville, provides adults with the opportunity to earn a high school diploma at no cost. It meets students where they are and offers a unique learning 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 the 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 opened in Indianapolis in 2010, the program has expanded to include 50 schools. Collectively, they have graduated more than 15,000 students.
To learn more about Goodwill Kentucky’s Excel Center, visit GoodwillKYExcelCenter.org.
About Goodwill Kentucky
For more than 100 years, Goodwill Kentucky has helped Kentuckians find pathways out of poverty through the transformative power of work. Operating in 103 of Kentucky’s 120 counties, Goodwill Kentucky places over 3,000 Kentuckians into jobs each year through its 1,400-plus employer partners and its own retail stores. These life-changing opportunities are made possible through donations to Goodwill Kentucky stores and community support. The organization reinvests approximately 90 cents of every dollar earned in its retail stores into job training and workforce programs. When you give to Goodwill, you do a lot of good.