2. News Room

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DWD, Bellin Health, and HSHS St. Vincent Hospital Celebrate Graduation of 11 Local Project SEARCH Interns

Project SEARCH program prepares young adults with disabilities for rewarding careers

GREEN BAY – Sami Schmechel was attending Syble Hopp School in De Pere when she watched a presentation by her former classmates who were Project SEARCH interns. With encouragement from her parents and teachers, she decided to join the program.

"I am a good hard worker, I can push myself to go further and take on more and more responsibilities," Schmechel said. "I learned new job skills throughout my internship at Project SEARCH."

Sami enjoyed meeting new people and working at different jobs during her Project SEARCH experience. The variety of job duties she explored during her time with Project SEARCH strengthened her commitment to her dream of working in childcare. She is currently applying for childcare positions in her community.

"The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development celebrates over 180 Project SEARCH graduates throughout the state who have explored new skills, expanded their opportunities, and earned a sense of pride through rewarding work," said DWD Secretary-designee Amy Pechacek. "In Wisconsin, some 171,000 people with disabilities are not attached to the labor market, yet we know many want to work. With our record-low unemployment rate, supporting these individuals in achieving their employment potential has never been more important."

The graduation ceremony held this week at ASPIRO in Green Bay marked the completion of an immersive work experience. The 11 interns recounted their hands-on experiences and talked about their future career opportunities.

In addition to the host site, the local internship experience was made possible by partners including ASPIRO, CESA 8, the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Brown County, Inclusa, Inc., Lakeland Care, and TMG Wisconsin. Statewide, 25 premier employers are participating in Project SEARCH this year.

Project SEARCH is a collaborative effort among DWD, state vocational rehabilitation agencies, area schools, local employers, and long-term care organizations to help interns acquire marketable, competitive, and transferable skills that lead to employment. The interns complete multiple 10-week rotations to maximize exposure to different career paths, learning employability skills in a classroom and hands-on job skills within the business environment.

Started at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in 1996, Project SEARCH has provided workforce training to nearly 1,500 Wisconsinites since its statewide launch in 2008. For more information, visit the Project SEARCH Wisconsin website.

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Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development efficiently delivers effective and inclusive services to meet Wisconsin's diverse workforce needs now and for the future. The department advocates for and invests in the protection and economic advancement of all Wisconsin workers, employers, and job seekers through six divisions – Employment and Training, Vocational Rehabilitation, Unemployment Insurance, Equal Rights, Worker's Compensation, and Administrative Services. To keep up with DWD announcements and information, sign up for news releases and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.