Goodwill’s Excel Center Launches First Day of Classes

115 students are enrolled in the region’s first adult high school

Goodwill’s Excel Center kicked off its adult high school classes today. The first of its kind in the region, the Excel Center is enrolling Missourians aged 21 and over who do not currently have a high school diploma. Excel Center students will have access to trained life coaches who provide support with challenges such as transportation, food and housing insecurity, and help develop personalized academic and graduation plans. The vision for the Excel Center is to open doors for continued education, good paying jobs and industry certifications through local business partners and post-secondary institutions. Forty seven other Goodwill Excel Centers have been successfully operating since the first one opened 10 years ago, including six in Missouri. The local Excel Center employs qualified education instructors to offer individualized assistance for people with disabilities, English language learners, and learners with a range of previous education. All students will be encouraged to earn industry recognized certifications and/or dual college credits along with their diploma. 

“The opening of the Excel Center is a major step, not just for our organization, but for the entire region,” said Dr. Romeo Michael, Excel Center Director. “The transformative power of a high school diploma is undeniable: the median weekly earnings for a person without a high school diploma is less than 80% of what a person with a high school diploma earns, and less than 72% of what a person with some college or an associate degree earns. It’s our hope that the Excel Center will be the first stop on our students’ journey to success.”

The Excel Center model has operated across the country for ten years. Data shows that this model provides immediate and long-term economic mobility for participants such as:

• $9,330 average annual increase in initial earned income.
• 22% more likely to be employed than their peers.
• 20% more likely to be enrolled in college or certificate programs.
• 35% increase in earned income compared to peers after four years.

“I look forward to meeting students where they are, watching their growth, and celebrating their milestones along the way” Jasmine Anderson, College & Career Readiness Specialist. 

About Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas

MoKan Goodwill is a nonprofit organization that serves the Greater Kansas City community and surrounding areas, spanning from St Joseph, Missouri to the north, Manhattan, Kansas to the west, Pittsburg, Kansas to the south and Blue Springs, Missouri to the east. The organization’s mission is to empower people to discover their potential and adapt for the future through the power of work. All of Goodwill’s programs and services are available to clients at no cost and the services are provided directly to the client. These programs and services include Digital Skills training, Bridge to Technology, and the Certified Manufacturing Associate Program through the Artemis Institute, the Ability One program for individuals with significant documented disabilities, and Reentry Services for individuals who have been previously incarcerated or who are currently justice involved and are seeking opportunities to build their skills and achieve career success.