Camree Banks graduated from The Excel Center® West in February 2018. Through her hard work and perseverance, she was able to overcome various obstacles. Her hard work paid off because she graduated Cum Laude and as a 21st Century Scholar. Camree plans to attend college in the fall to study photography, film and production. She shared her story at the graduation ceremony:

Pency Engmawii grew up with 11 siblings in a small Burmese village where education was difficult to acquire without wealth. Education is also approached differently in her home country.

Cordarryl Gray, 29, enrolled at The Excel Center® Meadows in April 2017. He quickly proved that he was motivated to succeed.

Student with barriers finds success at The Excel Center

Although Courtney Person earned a certificate of completion in high school, a learning disability prevented her from receiving a diploma. Courtney studied dental careers at the J. Everett Light Career Center as a high school student, but without a diploma, she could not pursue her plan to become a dental hygienist. It was a devastating blow.

“Three lessons that I learned in school are that George Washington fought Cornwallis in the Battle of Charleston, not to take things for granted and never give up.”

Dianna Tolentino was referred to Goodwill’s Nurse-Family Partnership® program by her OB in 2013.

“If I do it, then you have to do it, too.” These were the last words Courtney Messer had said to her mom, Misty Weikel, before they both enrolled at The Excel Center in August of 2013.

Returning to school can have a big impact on someone’s life. Julio Chavira found himself in the Juvenile Detention Center realizing he didn't want to continue down the road he was going.