Cost-OS Proudly supports Memphis Goodwill Excel Center
An Excel Center Graduate. ©2020 Greg Campbell
The Goodwill Excel Center® is a first-of-its-kind tuition free high school for adults and provides dropouts the opportunity to earn a full, state-recognized high school diploma, industry-recognized certifications and college credits.
Students learn in a flexible structure that allows them to maintain and manage work, life and family while meeting their educational goals. The Excel Center “meets students where they are” in their education.
Billy Tedford, President of Cost-OS, joined the Memphis Goodwill Board in 2011 and served as Chairman from 2014 - 2017. He’s spent the past four years as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Excel Center. “I was part of the Goodwill Board of Directors and worked to start the Excel Center as a separate entity. The Excel Center is filling a huge need in our community because of the large percentage of kids that don’t get their high school diploma. It hit me hard to realize that if a 16 or 17 year old made a mistake or a bad decision and left the public school system there was no turning back. I had never realized that.” said Tedford.
The poverty rate for dropouts is twice as high as graduates, and they are eight times more likely to be incarcerated. Often, students leave high school due to barriers or circumstances they cannot overcome without additional support.
In Memphis and Shelby County, there are over 120,000 adults without a high school diploma. In addition, a 2016 study by Measure of America ranked Memphis as the 3rd highest US city for the number of disconnected youth – which is a youth 16-19 years of age who are not working, not in school and hold less than an Associate Degree and are living 200% below the poverty line.
The lack of education is always the largest barrier to employment. The Memphis Goodwill Excel Center puts people on a path towards better job opportunities which lead to economic self-sufficiency and break the cycle of poverty. According to the Memphis Excel Center Research Report, their graduates have an average increase in pay of over $16,000.
“Our goal is to open more Excel Centers in Memphis and we have the local school district on board. We are moving forward with our fund raising efforts despite the pandemic.” Tedford said. “It’s very rewarding to see people of all ages coming in to achieve a diploma and feel that sense of accomplishment. It changes mindsets, and it changes lives. I’m very proud to have been a part of bringing the Excel Center to our city and will continue to serve as Board Chairman to do my part to promote continued success.”
The Excel Center Memphis has served over 5,000 students since it first opened in 2015, and has over 800 graduates through October 2020. Over 80% of graduates are employed or have furthered their education.
Marquetta Wilson ©2020 Greg Campbell
Marquetta Wilson has been out of high school for the past 15 years and got a second chance to earn her diploma through the Excel Center. Wilson said, “I had been working side jobs but that wasn’t for me and my family – I wanted to further my education so I could have the opportunity to make more money and pursue a career.” Wilson is attending Southwest Community College and wants to become a police officer. Wilson said, “coming from where I started from and looking back at my past – I’m very thankful for the Excel Center and the ability to go back and get my diploma. Thankful that I had a second chance.”
To learn more about the Memphis Goodwill Excel Center please click here.
If you would like to support the Excel Center you can donate here.