Dquincy Muse the first grad of Excel Adult High School | Pelican Post – Online Newspaper

Dquincy Muse the first grad of Excel Adult High School

Dquincy Muse

Ascension Parish Library (APL) is proud to announce the graduation of its first student, Dquincy Muse, from Excel Adult High School.

“This achievement demonstrates that with the right resources and support, educational goals are within reach regardless of past setbacks,” said APL’s Assistant Library Director Carrie Goodall. “As a former educator, this program is near to my heart. It shows the transformative power of lifelong learning and the library’s commitment to providing opportunities for all community members.”

APL is one of four libraries in Louisiana that offers Excel Adult High School, a free, accredited program for residents 21 and older to complete their high school education. The library began accepting applications for the program in January 2024. Participants must live in Ascension Parish and have an Ascension Parish Library card (free at all library locations).

Muse, 36, owns a local transportation company specializing in freight delivery. Years ago, Muse says he tried to start a CDL training school in the parish but was told he could not be an instructor without a high school diploma. He put those dreams on hold while he looked at his options.

Muse says he tried other programs that didn’t work for him. Then, his wife found a social media post about APL’s new high school program. “I said okay, let’s try it out. I did the application and the interview, and when I left, I had a feeling this would work,” Muse said at his graduation ceremony.

Carlos Contreras, the library’s adult literacy coordinator, interviews each potential Excel Adult High student to be sure the program will work for them. Courses are 100 percent online, allowing students flexible scheduling and personalized support, including unlimited one-on-one tutoring sessions and support from success coaches. Muse says having tutors and teachers available when he needed them was a resource he didn’t have in prior endeavors.

Students have 24 months to complete the program (21.5 credit requirement). They can transfer credits for courses completed at other accredited high schools or successfully passed portions of the GED, HiSET, or TASC. Muse transferred 15 credits into the program and completed his remaining 6.5 credits in less than two months, graduating with a 4.0 GPA.

“When I met Dquincy, what stood out to me was his drive and confidence; He knew this would benefit him,” Contreras said. “I used to work in social services, and I came across a lot of people who didn’t have their diploma – they had to leave high school to help support their family, there might have been academic struggles, sometimes it was because of social issues or teen pregnancy. This program empowers people to reclaim their education and achieve their dreams.”

Those dreams can now become a reality for Muse.

“I’m motivated. This has been holding me back for years, and now I get to use this opportunity to move myself and my family forward,” Muse said. “I have two kids, and I tell them all the time to get their diploma, go to college, and not give up.”

To learn more about Excel Adult High School, visit excelhighschool.org/library/myapl.

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Source: pelicanpostonline.com