Project SEARCH celebrated the graduation of six of its UNMC/Nebraska Medicine campus interns Wednesday.
Project SEARCH is a one-year, total workplace immersion vocational training program that helps individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities learn the necessary job skills to become competitively employed.
The UNMC/Nebraska Medicine site is the only adult site in Nebraska. Interns are either in their last year of transition or already receiving adult developmental disability day services. All six of this year’s graduating class have received job offers.
The medical center campus serves as a training site for the program, with Madonna School and VODEC as partners. The Munroe-Meyer Institute helps find internship site possibilities, and Sodexo provides internships on campus.
“We are so delighted to be a part of this program with the medical center,” said Jay Dunlap, president of Madonna School & Community-Based Services. “The folks who have been representing UNMC and Nebraska Medicine have been terrific to work with. They’ve been very dedicated, really caring about the interns, going above and beyond to create the opportunities for our young people.”
Program graduate Garrett Daeges, 22, said he worked hard and his instructors were helpful. Daeges will work at Nebraska Medicine, doing custodial work in the Clarkson Tower.
Garrett’s mother, Kim, called the program “the best thing that’s happened to Garrett,” and praised job coach Angel Brooks and Project SEARCH instructor Chris Miller.
“They went above and beyond, stayed on top of everything; they supported Garrett through everything,” she said.
“It’s just been exciting to be part of this program.”
Shannon Harter of VODEC said the program will expand to 12 participants next year.
“I hope I speak for everybody about the excitement and anticipation for what’s to come — new internship sites, new mentors, adding new folks to the table.”
Jon Nguyen, Sodexo’s general manager for environmental services, attended the graduation ceremony.
“We are very much engaged in supporting this population, so we’re very passionate about having an opportunity to give these individuals a chance,” he said. “It also was an opportunity to enhance the work environment for our staff. What you can see with a lot of the mentors is that they really become engaged and involved with each one of their interns.”
For additional information, please contact Tara Harper, Project SEARCH Liaison.
Congrats to ALL!! How exciting for these 6; a new adventure! A job well done!
Impressive.
Congratulations to all of the Project SEARCH graduates! What a great achievement!
What an amazing program – with awesome staff and interns! Congratulations on your graduation!
Congratulations on your graduation, and your new jobs!