Stories of Grit, Growth and Giving Back
ROCKVILLE, MD — Goodwill Industries International (GII) recently recognized its national award winners during the organization’s annual Delegate Assembly, held this year in Indianapolis, IN. All three award recipients were recognized for overcoming significant challenges to obtaining meaningful employment through the support of their local Goodwill organizations. During the Goodwill Shining Stars Banquet on June 24, Mohammed Alhamwi was named GII’s 2025 Kenneth Shaw Graduate of the Year; Ryan Osborn was named the 2025 Achiever of the Year; and Marcus Johnson was named the Carol and Tommy Moore Veteran of the Year.
Mohammed Alhamwi, 2025 Kenneth Shaw Graduate of the Year
For Mohammed, life as a teenager looked a lot different than it did for others his age. At just 18 years old, he and his family experienced tremendous hardships, including civil unrest, famines and diseases that forced them to flee their home in Syria before seeking refuge in neighboring Jordan.
After spending nearly 4 years as a refugee in Jordan with no opportunities to go to school or work, Mohammed immigrated to the U.S. in search of opportunities and a better life. He knew that education would be the critical first step and the gateway to rebuilding his life, so he soon enrolled at The Excel Center®, Goodwill’s tuition-free high school for adults.
Through his own hard work and the support of Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, Mohammed now works as a bedside nurse in the medical-surgical unit at Eskenazi Health in Indianapolis. There, he’s pursuing his passion for caring for others while fulfilling a critical workforce need in the community as a healthcare professional.
Ryan Osborn, 2025 GII Achiever of the Year
Ryan Osborn lacked direction in his life for many years, which resulted in addiction, homelessness and involvement with the justice system. In high school, Ryan gave in to peer pressure for the first time and began using drugs. After dropping out of high school and struggling with addiction, Ryan spent years cycling in and out of the justice system.
By the time he was 38, he was homeless and newly released from a 45-day jail sentence. Determined to change, he sought help from Goodwill North Central Texas and enrolled in a job placement program. Through the program, Ryan gained real work experience, rebuilt his confidence and found a sense of purpose.
Today, Ryan serves as a Retail Operations Manager for Goodwill North Central Texas, overseeing the Fort Worth outlet store, aftermarket, salvage and recycling commodity sales. He is now pursuing a college degree in business.
Marcus Johnson, 2025 Carol and Tommy Moore Veteran of the Year
For Marcus, adapting to civilian life after serving 22 years in the military presented a tremendous challenge. After years of service, he struggled to adapt to a new environment where the structure and discipline of military life no longer applied. Facing an uncertain future and not knowing how to navigate the current job market, Marcus encountered many hardships, including involvement with the justice system and homelessness.
However, the NexStep Alliance program offered by Goodwill Industries of Kansas (Wichita) helped him get his life back on track so he could gain meaningful employment. Today, Marcus is a team lead in the Goodwill Industries of Kansas contracts services department. There, he leads, mentors and inspires hope in a team of 35 employees.
“Mohammed, Ryan and Marcus represent all that the Goodwill mission embodies and demonstrate the Power of Work® to help overcome tremendous obstacles, change lives and achieve lifelong dreams,” said Steven Preston, president and CEO of GII. “Their ability to rise above their challenges, become leaders and help others do the same is truly inspiring and we are proud to honor their remarkable efforts.”
About the Graduate of the Year Award: The GII Kenneth Shaw Graduate of the Year award recognizes an outstanding person with a disability or disadvantaging condition who completed a Goodwill career services program and is competitively employed by a non-Goodwill employer.
About the Achiever of the Year Award: The GII Achiever of the Year is a person who has shown great progress and accomplishment in overcoming challenges to find employment, and who still benefits from the Goodwill work environment or receives services to support employment at a community site.
About the Veteran of the Year Award: The GII Carol and Tommy Moore Veteran of the Year honors a military veteran and Goodwill employee who has shown great progress and accomplishment in overcoming challenges to employment.
ABOUT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL
Goodwill works to enhance the quality of life of individuals and families by building bridges to opportunity, increasing access to helpful resources and empowering people to reach their own potential through learning and the power of work.
For more than 120 years, Goodwill organizations across North America have helped people find jobs, support their families and feel the satisfaction that comes from working. There are 152 local Goodwill organizations that assist people through employment placement services, job training programs and other community-based services. In 2024, they helped more than 2.1 million people build skills, access resources and advance careers.
Goodwill sells donated items in more than 3,300 outlet and retail stores in the U.S. and Canada and online marketplaces. The revenue creates training programs and job placements to help people earn paychecks and build their careers.
For more information or to find a Goodwill location near you, visit goodwill.org. Follow us on X/Twitter: @GoodwillIntl and @GoodwillCapHill, and find us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube: GoodwillIntl. Register for our Legislative Action Center via goodwill.org/advocate.
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