Meet Alexis Hornung & Andrew Weston

Alexis Hornung and Andrew Weston work together at their local Goodwill store in Corydon. They each turned 18 years old and graduated from high schools in Harrison County this past spring. Alexis, who graduated from Lanesville Senior High School with academic honors, always enjoyed being around kids and tutoring her classmates. Her passion for teaching was solidified at a young age by her stepmother, who taught special education.

Andrew attended North Harrison Community Schools, in the tiny town of Ramsey, where his mom teaches third grade. A Geography Bee in middle school first piqued his interest in foreign countries, and a mission trip with his church to Mexico solidified his desire to travel. Business now drives his desire to travel internationally.

While both Alexis and Andrew excelled in high school, earned scholarships and were ready to pursue postsecondary education, they still faced the prospect of taking on substantial student loan debt.. Through the employee support services offered at Goodwill, they were able to meet with a Goodwill Guide — a career and life coach — who helped Alexis and Andrew find financial assistance for college. At first skeptical, because it sounded too good to be true, Guide Chris Wass clearly explained the options available, and their financial anxiety was replaced with hopefulness.

Goodwill was able to secure grant funding to pay the remaining balance for both students’ first two years of college. Alexis enrolled at a college in New Albany, where she will pursue her dream of teaching elementary school students, and Andrew will pursue his degree in business at the same college. With tuition covered, they can now focus on their education.