The Excel Center’s first graduate receives a high school diploma and will continue her education.

Brittany Mills tried multiple times to earn her high school diploma after a car accident in 2007 led to her not finishing the credits she needed to graduate. She attempted a credit recovery program and also looked into getting her GED, but it wasn’t until The Excel Center opened that she was able to finish her coursework.

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Brittany Mills is the first graduate of The Excel Center in Roanoke, Virginia, the state's first adult high school.

Nineteen years later, Mills is now a high school graduate, the first from The Excel Center. She has earned her diploma alongside a dental assistant certification, and is continuing her education to pursue a career in dental hygiene.

Mills attributes her success to the individual attention and personalized support that she received from The Excel Center team.

“Everyone at The Excel Center wants to help; they look into your future and see what you want to do with your life,” said Mills. “The on-site childcare helped make it possible. My little boy got to come to school with me, and if I didn’t have that, it would have been a challenge.”

“Brittany’s story exemplifies why it was so important for us to open The Excel Center,” said Richmond Vincent, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of the Valleys. “She is the first of many adults whose lives will be changed through education at The Excel Center. We are proud of her dedication to finishing the classes to earn her diploma.”

“The support services offered through The Excel Center remove barriers that often keep adults from returning to school,” said Kelley Weems, senior director of community impact at Goodwill Industries of the Valleys. “Brittany’s story shows what’s possible when those barriers are removed. Access to education doesn’t just help someone earn a diploma. It opens the door to new opportunities and a brighter future.”

More than 14,000 adults in the Roanoke Valley do not have a high school diploma. Mills’s graduation is the first step in The Excel Center’s mission to help more adults earn a diploma while preparing for careers that offer long-term stability and growth.

Operated by Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, The Excel Center is Virginia’s first public adult high school. The tuition-free school provides flexible scheduling, life coaching, transportation assistance and free childcare so adult learners can pursue their education while balancing work and family responsibilities.

ABOUT THE EXCEL CENTER^®

The Excel Center^® is a free adult high school that aims to create opportunities for adults who did not graduate from high school. The program allows students to complete high school coursework while earning workforce credentials and ensures student success by addressing barriers for adult students and providing wraparound services such as childcare, transportation services, and college and career navigation. The Excel Center is an evidence-based, proven educational model that has been used by Goodwill centers across the United States since 2010.

ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF THE VALLEYS

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys serves 35 counties and 14 cities throughout Central, Southwest, and Southside Virginia. Our vision of eliminating poverty is fueled by our mission of empowering individuals, strengthening families, and inspiring communities. Your donations and shopping allow Goodwill to provide skills training, job placement, and support services to help people achieve their fullest potential. Visit goodwillvalleys.com for more information.

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“Brittany’s story exemplifies why it was so important for us to open The Excel Center,” said Richmond Vincent, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of the Valleys. “She is the first of many adults whose lives will be changed through education..."