THE EXCEL CENTER IS HELPING STUDENTS REACH NEW HEIGHTS ABOVE AND BEYOND
RECENT GRADUATIONS
GTEC welcomes two new directors
Congratulations to The Excel Centers in Little Rock and Springdale that held their summer com- mencements in June. Little Rock saw 57 gradu - ates walk and Springdale had 20 remarkable individuals cross the finish line to claim their hard-earned high school diplomas. LITTLE ROCK & NWA GRADUATION RECAP VIDEO
The Goodwill Training and Education Center (GTEC) is pleased to announce the appointment of two new leaders. Sharlee Crowson is our new director of GTEC Little Rock and comes to us with deep roots in Arkansas education and has a clear commitment
SHARLEE CROWSON
KERI LEDBETTER
to helping students maximize their potential. She has led statewide initiatives, built strong partnerships with educators and schools and understands how to turn complex programs into real results for com- munities. Keri Ledbetter is our new director of GTEC Springdale and has spent her career working at the intersection of education, nonprofit lead - ership and community impact. She has managed large, multi‑state initiatives and led teams and programs focused on expanding oppor- tunities for individuals and families. Both Sharlee and Keri share a genuine commitment to our mission and to the staff and students they serve. We are grateful to have them on the team and excited to see impact they will make.
goodwill arkansas hosts national conference
Phoenix already had a diploma when she came to The Excel Center. Howev- er, high school was a difficult chapter in her life that kept her constantly in meet Phoenix norris EXCEL CENTER GRADUATE
In May, Goodwill Arkan - sas was honored to host the 2026 National Excel Center Conference. Edu- cators, staff and leaders from across the country gathered in Little Rock to celebrate The Excel Center’s impact on local
survival mode. Though education had always been important to her, her grades did not reflect her skills. Over time, her situation improved. She found the people she now calls family, set new goals and found the motivation to achieve them. She dreamed of going to college, but her previous GPA did not meet the re- quirement for financial aid assistance. Soon after, she heard about The Excel Center, and the rest is history. An honor stu- dent, Phoenix now exceeds the GPA requirement for aid and will attend The University of Central Arkansas this fall to study linguistics and language. “We all have moments in our past we wish we could revisit as who we are today,” she said. “Excel gave me that chance. I am truly thankful for that.”
EXCEL CONFERENCE VIDEO
communities. The stories shared were a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to earn a high school diploma. Earning a high school diploma is more than an educational milestone. Adult education transforms lives and families, creating a ripple effect that extends far beyond the classroom.
little rock 7400 scott hamilton drive (501) 372-5100
springdale 2100 s. old missouri road (479) 595-8818
learn more at goodwilltec.org/excel
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mission magazine / volume 5 / summer 2026
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