Ascension St. Elizabeth, part of Ascension Wisconsin, hosted its 6th Project SEARCH graduation earlier this summer.
Twelve Project SEARCH interns graduated after collectively completing 36 internships, each of which ran for 10 weeks, at Ascension St. Elizabeth.
Project SEARCH is a business-led collaboration that enables youth and young adults with disabilities to gain and maintain employment through training and career exploration in a hands-on work environment. A nine-month program, Project SEARCH provides total immersion in a large community business. Students with disabilities are offered a workforce alternative for their last year of high school with the goal of being employed by the Project SEARCH host. The program is dedicated to workforce development that benefits the individual, community and workplace.
Local agencies participating in Project Search, who came together seven years ago with a commitment to establish this program and focus on serving the interns, are the Appleton Area School District, Valley Packaging, Inc., Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Community Care and TMG Wisconsin. Guest speakers at the graduation ceremony included JoAnna Richard, Deputy Secretary, Wisconsin Workforce Development; and Appleton Mayor Tim Hanna.
