Heaven Ledbetter, a determined student from North Little Rock, is proving it’s never too late to finish what you started. After dropping out of high school at 17 and work- ing various jobs, Ledbetter knew she wanted more for her future. “I just needed to further my experi- ences,” she said. She learned about The Excel Center® through her boyfriend’s mother, who works for the Ar- kansas Department of Education. meet HEAVEN LEDBETTER EXCEL CENTER STUDENT
upcoming graduations
Now enrolled, Ledbetter is thriving despite the challenges of returning to school after five years. “It’s been a chal - lenge,” she admitted. “But I love The Excel Center. They definitely help you a lot. There are good people to talk to.” One of the most impactful parts of her experience has been working with life coaches. “They help me with life situations when sometimes I feel like I can’t make it,” she shared. “Maybe most importantly, they genuinely help me consider my next steps after I finish and earn my diplo - ma.” Those next steps include enrolling in The Academy at Goodwill to pursue a Pharmacy Technician certification. Ledbetter is also considering college—a future she’s now confidently planning, diploma in sight.
little rock + june 18 + 6pm springdale + june 27 + 6pm
gia launches goodwilltec.org
Goodwill Industries of Arkansas has launched GoodwillTEC.org , the new website for the Goodwill Training and Education Cen- ter (GTEC). With a fresh look and improved functionality, the site highlights GTEC programs and makes it easier for administrators to engage current students and connect with prospective learners across Arkansas.
Resilience in Action: Excel Center Staff and Students Pivot After Fire Damage
When unexpected fires caused significant wa - ter damage to The Excel Center in March, our in- credible team rose to the challenge. Thanks to the resilience and dedication of our staff—and the flex - ibility of our students— classes continued without missing a beat, relocating into temporary spaces across the Goodwill Re- source Center. In the mid- dle of the term, our edu- cators quickly adapted,
ensuring students stayed on track toward earning their high school diplomas. We are grateful to our Academy, Excel Center and facilities teams for their hard work during this transition and look forward to returning to The Excel Center next term, stronger than ever.
learn more at goodwillar.org/excel
11 mission magazine / volume 2 / sUMMER 2025 mission magazine / volume 2 / summer 2025
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