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Tony Evers, Governor
Amy Pechacek, Secretary-designee

Department of Workforce Development
Secretary's Office
201 E. Washington Avenue
P.O. Box 7946
Madison, WI 53707-7946
Telephone: (608) 266-3131
Fax: (608) 266-1784
Email: sec@dwd.wisconsin.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2022
CONTACT: DWD Communications
CommunicationsOffice@dwd.wisconsin.gov

DWD, Ascension Mercy Medical Center Celebrate Graduation of Seven Local Project SEARCH Interns

Project SEARCH program prepares young adults with disabilities for rewarding careers

2022 Ascension Mercy Medical Center Project SEARCH graduate Isabella Izzy Jolin shares what she learned during her Project SEARCH internship.

OSHKOSH – Oshkosh North High School student Isabella "Izzy" Jolin has been a positive and motivated Project SEARCH intern, according to staff from the program's Ascension Mercy Medical Center site.

During the nine-month program, Izzy enjoyed seeing her friends and co-workers and learning new skills, such as making a budget and using the internet safely. Thanks to Project SEARCH, Izzy has gained highly valuable and transferrable skills, and looks forward to applying those skills to find and maintain a part-time job in customer service.

"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 at the Oshkosh North High School Auditorium recently, marked the completion of an immersive work experience for Izzy and her fellow interns. Each of the seven graduates recounted their hands-on experiences and talked about their future career opportunities.

In addition to the host site and DWD's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, the local internship experience was made possible by partners including Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin, Lakeland Care, TMG, and the Oshkosh Area School District. Statewide, 25 premier employers are participating in Project SEARCH this year.

Graduates from the 2022 Ascension Mercy Medical Center Project SEARCH class give a group presentation during their graduation ceremony at Oshkosh North High School. Left to right: Ryan Delfosse, Ellie Freid, Aline Havyarimana, Isabella Jolin, Ryan Moon, Nicholas Pettibone, Richard Stickney

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.

ABOUT DWD

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.