ANDERSON — "Always had a smile on her face, no matter what. Loved her kids to death. Loved them."
Vickie Hatter is speaking about her 26-year-old daughter, Kiara McCullough. McCullough died on June 7. Anderson Police have ruled her death a homicide and are investigating.
"She was beautiful, inside and out," Hatter said. "She always wanted to help the next person. She was just wonderful."
McCullough's desire to help others led her to pursue a career in nursing. She went back to school at Excel Center in Anderson, a free charter school for adult learners operated by Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana.
"I think they're awesome. They're very caring, very supportive," Hatter said.
"Every day she came in and said 'I'm here for my kids. I'm here for my kids. This is why I'm doing this'," Miriam Henry, Goodwill education initiatives regional director for the Excel Center, said.
McCullough earned her diploma and her certified nursing assistant (CNA) certification, graduating cum laude, with honors.
"She had a rough life, and then she did a whole 360 and everything was great," Hatter said.
McCullough was such a successful and popular student that she was chosen to speak at graduation. But her dreams of graduation and nursing school were cut short.
"Our staff in school was devastated," Henry said. "Being able to come together as a staff and community to remember her and to honor her, and give her the accolades she definitely deserved as a model student for us, it's hard, but we lean on each other and we celebrate the memory of her, and I think she would want that."
Instead, five of McCullough's children accepted their mother's hard-earned diploma in the midst of a standing ovation.
"While she was with us, she was always smiling," Henry said. "I think that's really powerful to see such a strong mom who had a lot of stuff going on in life and in personal life, knowing what opportunities she didn't have, and being to overcome that is huge, and I'm super proud of her for that, and I want that to be the legacy that lives on."
"She wanted to set an example for her kids. And she did it," Hatter said.
McCullough's family is re-building their business in her honor. Key & K United Corp will be dedicated to helping children.
-
Daly, Palou become 1st drivers to top 228 mph on 2nd day of Indy 500 practice
They were the only drivers to top 228, while Palou had the fastest trap speed of the day at 237.220.
IPS announces 2026 Summer Meal Service locations
Indianapolis Public Schools will start its Summer Meal Service program on June 1, offering up to two meals a day to children 18 or younger, regardless of whether or not they are enrolled in school.
No serious injuries reported after car crashes into apartment building
A woman and her one-year-old child were injured after she crashed her car into an apartment complex on the south side of Indianapolis.
Student, parent say all-day school phone ban easier than it sounds
Gov. Mike Braun on Wednesday morning held a ceremonial bill signing in Whiteland for Indiana's all-day school cellphone ban, which takes effect July 1, in time for the 2026-2027 school year.
