Virginia Western and The Excel Center held an event Friday, March 13, to celebrate a new partnership. Here is a joint news release from Virginia Western and Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, which operates The Excel Center:
Adult learners at The Excel Center are one step closer to graduating with their standard high school diploma and an industry-recognized certificate, thanks to a collaboration with Virginia Western Community College. An official signing on Friday, March 13, by Richmond Vincent, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, and Dr. Laura J. Treanor, President of Virginia Western, solidified the partnership.
The Excel Center’s adult learners will be able to select career pathways in healthcare, light manufacturing and select trades, with each pathway resulting in either a credential or certification. This focus ensures that each graduate leaves The Excel Center with a strong future in the workforce.
“When an adult walks through our doors, they have overcome enormous obstacles just to show up,” said Richmond Vincent, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of the Valleys. “This partnership with Virginia Western means they earn more than a diploma on graduation day. They leave with a credential that opens a door to the workforce, and that changes the trajectory of entire families.”
While the partnership provides a life-changing opportunity for individual students, its impact radiates far beyond the classroom. Both organizations are working in tandem to bridge the gap between untapped potential and the region’s workforce needs.
“This partnership with The Excel Center is a natural extension of Virginia Western’s commitment to our region,” said Dr. Laura J. Treanor, president of Virginia Western Community College. “By connecting adult learners directly to credential pathways, we’re giving people a faster route to stable careers while strengthening the workforce our local employers depend on.”
More than 14,000 adults in the Roanoke Valley do not have a high school diploma. The Excel Center is working to reduce those numbers by providing accelerated coursework toward a standard high school diploma in an environment that provides assistance with common barriers for adult students, including transportation assistance and childcare.
Operated by Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, The Excel Center is the first public adult high school in the Commonwealth and is a national model that has helped more than 15,000 adults across the country graduate high school and earn certifications. Research shows that Excel Center alumni earn 38% more than their peers within five years of graduation, helping them overcome previously existing financial barriers. Ensuring that graduates leave The Excel Center with a credentialed skill is one key to this success.
Learn more about The Excel Center.
