ROCKFORD, Ill. — Goodwill of Northern Illinois is celebrating a major milestone at its new Excel Center in Rockford, just months after opening the first adult high school of its kind in the state.

The Excel Center opened in September and offers a free high school education for adults seeking a certified diploma. According to data from the American Community Survey, 25,048 people in Boone and Winnebago counties do not have a high school diploma or GED.

This week, the Excel Center marked a significant achievement with its very first graduate.

“Jayden is very quiet, he keeps to himself, but he's a very intelligent student and he's a whiz in what he does,” said Brandye Hereford, School Director at Rockford’s Excel Center.

“He's really good in technology.”

The Excel Center is attached to t

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