2. News Room

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DWD, UW-Platteville Celebrate Graduation of Six Local Project SEARCH Interns

PLATTEVILLE – Paxton Tuescher graduated from Platteville High School in 2021 and joined the Project SEARCH program hosted at UW-Platteville for the 2021-2022 year. While participating in the program, Paxton interned with UW-Platteville's Building and Grounds Department, Custodial Services, Office of Students with Disabilities, and Chancellor’s Office.

While working in the Chancellor's Office, it didn't take long for Paxton to become an ambassador for Project SEARCH, sharing his passion for the program with Chancellor's Office staff.

"All of my rotation experiences have been great opportunities and have opened my eyes to the variety of employment opportunities I will have after graduation," Paxton said.

Using the skills he gained through Project SEARCH, Paxton is excited to begin his job search – and he's starting nearby, with hopes of landing a position on the UW-Platteville campus.

"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 University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Markee Pioneer Student Center in Platteville recently, marked the completion of an immersive work experience. Each of the six interns 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 Hodan Community Service, CESA #3, and participating school districts. 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.