by Shawn Nowlin
The difference between someone having a high school diploma or not is an average of nearly $500,000 in lifetime earnings.
When the Excel Center at Melrose Plaza opened the Commonwealth’s first adult high school last August, it was an opportunity for the thousands of individuals throughout the Roanoke Valley without a diploma to get one.
The original enrollment goal was 50 students. Seventy-five wound up being part of the inaugural class. There is currently a waitlist for open slots. Later this year, the first graduation ceremony will take place.
In addition to education, the Center, operated by Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, also offers free daycare and transportation assistance.
More than 550 additional individuals have already applied, according to Richmond Vincent, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries. Support for the school comes in different forms, including assistance from state lawmakers.
The value of having a high school diploma is something that Virginia’s Secretary of Labor Jessica Looman understands and spoke to on June 10, during her visit to the Excel Center to tour the facility and learn of its impact.
Joining her for the gathering was Roanoke City Council member Vivian Sanchez-Jones, Va. Delegate Sam Rasoul, Business and Development Manager Toni McLawhorn, among many other elected officials.
“This project could not have happened without our philanthropic investors, not only from the City of Roanoke, but also from private investors,” Vincent said before introducing Looman. “You all were so instrumental in our ability to finish this facility and carry on our efforts with the Excel Center.”
“It is such a joy to be here today, to represent Governor Spanberger. The enthusiasm of this team shines through. What is happening today is the necessary foundation to ensure that people have the resources that they need,” said Looman, whose visit marked her first time in Roanoke.
She added, “This is the best of what is going to make Virginia successful. These are the types of investments that truly make a difference and we‘re gonna make sure that everybody in this valley and the 1,400 folks who need this program are gonna have the resources and the opportunities they need to be able to grow and thrive.”
“The Excel Center reflects the city’s broader commitment to education and economic opportunity. When the city received ARPA funding, we knew we had an opportunity and a responsibility to make a transformational investment,” Sanchez-Jones said.
Delegate Sam Rasoul first reflected on the secretary’s humble (but very real) spirit he felt during their first meeting. Rasoul continued to speak to the enormous importance of the plaza and how it serves the needs of the northwest community.
“We in this community have been given a golden opportunity by Goodwill and the community partners who have invested time, treasure and talent in this project and we’re so thankful for it,” said Rasoul.
“Every time that I step on this property, I get a feeling of déjà vu. My first job, while I was in high school, was on this property when it was K-Mart,” McLawhorn said. “What we do at the Virginia Workforce Board in connecting with places like Excel Center is a passion of mine because my education is in education.”
If additional funding can be raised, the Excel Center will be able to expand its operations. For more information, visit excelcentergiv.com.
