SHELBYVILLE, Ind. – The Excel Center in Shelbyville, Goodwill’s tuition-free high school for adults, graduates its winter class this Thursday. Designed to empower individuals to overcome adversity and reach their potential, The Excel Center offers a unique opportunity for adult learners to earn an Indiana high school diploma.
Amidst the challenges many residents face in Shelby County, where more than 11% of adults lack a high school diploma, The Excel Center offers individualized support and a path to success. The Excel Center has celebrated thousands of graduates who have joined the workforce or are continuing their education at local universities.
The Excel Center uplifts those who seek advancement not only in education but in all aspects of life. A former Shelbyville graduate, John Thompson, understands this firsthand. Thompson was born with autism and didn’t learn to speak until he was eight years old.
“Some people would say having autism is a struggle, but I would say it makes you special,” he said.
Before enrolling at The Excel Center, Thompson was homeschooled and had never attended a public school. Not only did he graduate, he expanded his support network and achieved success in other areas of his life. Today, he works at the Shelbyville Goodwill store and has a bright future.
One of the many qualities that sets Thompson apart is that he is a gifted pianist, who can learn to play any song in a matter of minutes despite having no formal lessons.
The Excel Center has graduated nearly 8,000 adults from 16 campuses in central and southern Indiana. The 2024 winter graduation is Thursday, February 22, at 6 p.m., at The Strand Theatre, 215 S. Harrison St., in Shelbyville.