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DWD, Marshfield Clinic Health System Celebrate Graduation of Nine Local Project SEARCH Interns

Project SEARCH Program Prepares Young Adults with Disabilities for Rewarding Careers

MARSHFIELD – Nine local young adults with disabilities spent the past nine months learning new skills and trying new work opportunities at Marshfield Clinic Health System in Marshfield through Project SEARCH, a collaborative program overseen by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). All nine program interns were offered employment ahead of graduation.

The graduation ceremony at the Marshfield Clinic Conference Center on May 17 marked the completion of a nine- to 12-month immersive work experience. The interns recounted their hands-on experiences and talked about their future career opportunities.

Chessa Skattebo, a graduate from Spencer High School, particularly enjoyed working in the childcare center at the Marshfield Clinic Health System YMCA during Project SEARCH, where she became certified as an assistant teacher. Skattebo was hired as an event assistant at Hotel Marshfield and will begin her new position shortly after graduation.

Joe Larsen, a graduate of Marshfield High School, was excited to learn about all the different tools technicians use during his rotation in Marshfield Clinic's Central Sterilization Services. With help from the new work skills he gained through Project SEARCH, Larsen was offered a permanent retail helper position at his local Kwik Trip.

Desiree Thomas, a graduate from Marshfield High School, and Destiney Blank, a graduate of Auburndale High School, had the opportunity to complete all three of their Project SEARCH rotations at the Marshfield Clinic Health System YMCA. During their time with the program, both Thomas and Blank earned a Head Child Care Teacher certificate and were hired as assistant childcare teachers at the Marshfield Clinic Health System YMCA upon graduation.

Justice Wunrow, a graduate of Loyal High School, appreciated the opportunity to explore a variety of careers during his rotations in Marshfield Clinic's laundry services, at Animal House Pets, and at the hospital's Subway restaurant. Using the new skills he gained through Project SEARCH, Wunrow is looking forward to helping support his family through his new position at Kwik Trip in Marshfield.

Michael Weigel, a graduate from Marshfield High School, especially enjoyed learning how to detail, maintain, and repair vehicles during his Project SEARCH rotations at Art's Body Shop and Marawood Construction. Weigel was offered a permanent position at Marawood Construction and is excited to continue working there after graduation.

Tad Larson, a graduate of Marshfield High School, learned many new skills during his Project SEARCH rotations in Marshfield Clinic's Gastroenterology and Emergency/Urgent Care departments. Larson will continue working in Marshfield Clinic's Emergency/Urgent Care department after graduation, where he was hired as a unit attendant.

Theresa Adler, a graduate of Marshfield High School, was grateful to work in Marshfield Medical's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Pediatrics department, and in the shipping and receiving department at Dental Crafters, where the staff helped her grow during her internship rotations. Thanks to the skills she gained through Project SEARCH, Adler will begin a full-time job as a dietary aide at Three Oaks Health Services in Marshfield after graduation.

William Koch, a graduate from Marshfield High School, flourished in his first Project SEARCH rotation at Marshfield Clinic's Inpatient Pharmacy, where he learned to work as a team with his colleagues. Koch was hired by Marshfield Clinic as a full-time pharmacy technician and is excited to begin working toward his pharmacy technician certification.

"The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development is excited to celebrate the state's nearly 200 Project SEARCH graduates, who have explored new skills, expanded their opportunities, and earned a great sense of accomplishment in the work they have done over the past nine months," said DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek. "In Wisconsin, successful programs like Project SEARCH reaffirm the tremendous skills and talents individuals with disabilities bring to the workforce, and that success would not be possible without the dedicated employers and statewide partners who deliver the program, day in and day out."

In addition to the host site, the local internship experience was made possible by partners including the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), the Marshfield School District, Comprehensive Community Services, Opportunity Development Centers (ODC), Inclusa, and Lakeland Care. Statewide, 28 premier employers are participating in Project SEARCH this year.

Project SEARCH is a collaborative effort among 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 and learn both employability skills in a classroom and hands-on job skills in the business environment.

Started at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in 1996, Project SEARCH has provided workforce training to over 1,800 Wisconsin residents since its statewide launch in 2008. For more information, visit Project SEARCH Wisconsin.

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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.