Each May, Goodwill Education Initiatives celebrates Teacher Appreciation Month by honoring our educators whose dedication to service goes above and beyond, significantly impacting the lives of their students. 

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the shutdown of public schools, Taylor Martin was only 10 credits away from graduating high school; however, she struggled with the online learning format and was unable to finish. Now 23 years old, life hasn’t been easy. 

Dim’Mya Norman was going into her freshman year of high school when a family member – and graduate of Indianapolis Metropolitan High School – encouraged her to enroll. 

When Sam Harmeson left high school, they were coping with the death of their mother from a drug overdose and struggling with undiagnosed autism. Shortly after, the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe, and Sam found it difficult to secure a job, especially without a diploma. In 2023, when Sam and their caretaker and aunt, Bettina Hapney, visited a local Goodwill retail store, Sam learned about an opportunity that would change their life. 

As we celebrate Women’s History Month and the theme Moving Forward Together! Women Educating and Inspiring Generations, we honor women whose leadership and vision have created lasting change in their communities and beyond. Few embody this spirit more than Betsy Delgado, Senior Vice President and Chief Mission and Education Officer at Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana. Through her dedication to expanding educational access and breaking down systemic barriers, Betsy has transformed thousands of lives, ensuring a brighter future for generations to come.

The Excel Center®, Goodwill's tuition-free high school for adults, recently honored hundreds of students during its 2025 winter graduating class. Designed to empower individuals to overcome adversity and reach their potential, The Excel Center provides a unique opportunity for adult learners, like Michael Barlow, to earn an Indiana Core 40 high school diploma.

In 2022, a team at Goodwill Colorado and Goodwill Education Initiatives examined the feasibility and need for opening The Excel Center®, Goodwill’s tuition-free high school for adults, in their state. Not only did they find a need, but they also discovered an extensive network of support for opening an adult high school.

When Melissa Cotton left high school her senior year, it was after enduring years of bullying by her peers for a learning disability. 

When Angela Gregory enrolled at The Excel Center®, Goodwill’s tuition-free high school for adults, she was a single parent to her three-year-old son and struggling to secure stable, long-term housing. She also has autism. Her primary motivation for completing high school was her son.