The Excel Center®, Goodwill's tuition-free high school for adults, recently celebrated its summer graduating class. Designed to empower individuals to overcome adversity and reach their potential, The Excel Center provides a unique opportunity for adult learners, like Sylvia and Natacha Beogo, to earn an Indiana Core 40 high school diploma.

After the loss of her husband, Bunmi Oloke, along with her two young sons, made the decision to leave their homeland of Nigeria and seek asylum in the United States in December 2018. Overwhelmed by grief and grappling with the weight of her new reality, Bunmi found herself confronting not only the challenges of adapting to a foreign land but also the formidable task of preserving her mental well-being.

Last month, Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana hosted the The Excel Center® National Conference. The National Conference is an opportunity for individuals operating within The Excel Center network to share information, hear from graduates and learn best practices in serving students. Attendees were invited to panel discussions, sessions from industry experts and addresses from Leaders from Goodwills and The Excel Center locations across the country. 

Every first Sunday in June is National Cancer Survivors Day®, a time to celebrate life, increase public awareness and call for more resources and further research. Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana is humbled to share the cancer journeys of the many leaders contributing to our mission of changing lives through education, employment and health.

Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana proudly presents its 2024 Educators of the Year!

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and as part of our celebration of this cultural holiday, we are excited to highlight Connie De Castro, a science teacher and leader at The Excel Center® location at University Heights. 

May is National Educator Appreciation Month and to celebrate, we are shining a spotlight on some of Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana’s many wonderful teachers and educators. Meet Halle Shine - a math teacher and leader at Indianapolis Metropolitan High School. Prior to working at Indy Met, Halle was a special education teacher with Teach for America, an Americorp graduate and a math tutor. Halle is a graduate of Indiana University where she majored in Public Affairs and Environmental Management. 

After working different jobs at minimum wage, Allen Kessinger realized that he had a dream of becoming an Indianapolis police officer – but he needed a high school diploma to apply for a position and begin training. A Core 40 diploma would allow Allen to earn a family-sustaining income and grow in his career.