When April Mattingly graduated from high school, she had no idea that one of the first places she worked would be her home away from home for the next 20 years.

Lakia Osborne recently became The Excel Center® Regional Director, responsible for the general school operation, performance, academic oversight and direction of our Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana adult high school network. Having worked at Goodwill for nearly a decade, Lakia is well-positioned for success in her new role, as she has a vast amount of expertise of The Excel Center model, previously serving in key positions including school director, project manager and life coach. Read on to learn more about this inspiring leader.

Through education, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana is focused on supporting students on a pathway towards better career prospects that lead to economic self-sufficiency and have a multigenerational impact on families.

William presenting a diploma to a graduate of The Excel Center.  

Like thousands of students across the state, Desiree Segraves is graduating from high school in June 2021. However, Desiree is not your typical soon-to-be-graduate. For one thing, she is just 16 years old; she is also mother to her one-year-old son, Kameron.

Theresa Samuels, 33, is a wife, mom, soon-to-be accountant and fervent believer in the power of education. Growing up, however, Theresa’s household did not place much emphasis on the value of schooling.

Seeking new opportunities, Sophia Lan moved to the United States from China. After her arrival in January 2014, she was informed that her high school diploma and bachelor’s degree were not recognized. While working full time and caring for her 6-month-old daughter, Sophia knew she had to go back to school to make a better life for her family.  In 2018, Sophia learned that The Excel Center®, Goodwill’s high school for adults, had a campus near her in Lafayette, Indiana, and enrolled right away. 

In the Fall of 2018, Josh Yoder joined a team of instructors at a recently opened location for The Excel Center, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana’s tuition-free high school for adults, in Muncie Indiana. As a math instructor, Josh brought expertise and passion for math into his classroom each and every day. In addition, he immediately discovered the ability to engage with and use technology in his classroom in a way that would benefit his students.