On April 1, 2010, the Excel By 5 state office welcomed Mechelle Wallace as its Region II Sites Coordinator. She will work in sixteen Delta communities to assist them in the Excel By 5 certification process.

It took money, time and a lot of hard work but Monroe county leaders hope it all pays off for children in that area.  The county is now Certified as an 'Excel By 5" Early childhood community.  The effort will help ensure all children get a head start on school.

Pascagoula Recognized in MS as Official 'Child-Friendly'

PASCAGOULA--WLOX-TV Stations Manager David Vincent shares his support for the Excel by Five Initiative.

PASCAGOULA -- A first-ever health fair held at the Excel by 5 Resource Center gave parents a sneak peek at the new Resource Library Saturday.

JACKSON, Miss – Mississippi First Lady Marsha Barbour today joined early childhood development experts and ChevronTexaco representatives to launch Excel by Five, a community-based educational program designed to improve a child’s overall well-being by age five. Funded with a $650,000 grant from ChevronTexaco, the program will be piloted in Cleveland, West Point, Petal and Pascagoula.

PASCAGOULA -- Parents of children from birth to 5 years old are invited to stop by the Excel by 5 Resource Center Saturday for free health screenings for their young ones as well as a first look at the program's toy library that will open in May.

Starkville, Mississippi - Petal, Mississippi will officially become the first certified Excel by 5 community in the state on Saturday, March 31, 2007 at the community's celebration. As one of four pilot sites, Petal will be recognized for its work to meet the required criteria to achieve certification as a "child-friendly" community.

PASCAGOULA -- The Excel by 5 toy library has all the educational opportunities of a pre-school classroom combined with all the fun of a new toy store, and it will open in April for area children to enjoy.