Excel Center celebrates its first year in Poplar Bluff

The Poplar Bluff MERS Goodwill Excel Center for adult learners, located next door to Orscheln, celebrated its one-year anniversary Oct. 24.

Through the combined efforts of MERS Goodwill Industries and the Poplar Bluff community, the Excel Center opened last fall. The very first class of graduates from an Excel Center program in the state of Missouri have now earned their high school diplomas. Other center locations include St. Louis, Springfield and Columbia.

Excel Director Blane Keel says the center’s first year “has met my expectations, but I would love a larger enrollment so we could help more people.”

Keel is proud of one “tremendous victory” the center has seen come to fruition this past year. A few of the first-year graduates have gone on to college, with even more planning to pursue higher education, he said.

As the current term comes to a close, Keel notes the center will see nearly 20 students graduate in December.

“It’s an opportunity (for the students) to change their lives,” to accomplish goals once thought too far out of reach, he says.

The Excel Center educational program typically follows eight-week sessions, Monday through Thursday, with a daytime schedule and evening options. The flexibility of the program allows students to complete the program at their own pace.

The center also offers daycare services so students have a safe place to keep their children while attending classes. Keel says the students relax and can concentrate more knowing their children are close by.

A future expansion goal for the Excel Center is the implementation of a transportation program. Keel says many potential students may leave the program or never sign up because of a lack of transportation.

For example, he would like to see a gas voucher program or even shuttle services be used in the future. The main goal is to ease the burdens for those adults wanting to come to the Poplar Bluff center to earn their high school diplomas.

Keel says the center is constantly looking for innovative ways to appeal to adult learners, making the choice to come back to school an easy transition. He says they are currently in the development stage of planning off-site campuses to reach outlying areas not yet being served.

Organizers are also working toward offering an IRCs (Industry Recognized Credentials) program. This program would offer training and help future students get jobs in specific industries along with lead-ins for student to receive more advanced skills.

Anyone from Southeast Missouri can enroll in the Excel Center’s free programs. They provide ample classroom space and all instructors are teachers certified through the state of Missouri. The center has the space and resources to hold classes for a maximum of 300 students.

For more information or to sign up for programs contact the Poplar Bluff Excel Center at 573-686-6004 or online at www.excel.mersgoodwill.org.