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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
August 15, 2022
CONTACT: DWD Communications
CommunicationsOffice@dwd.wisconsin.gov

DWD, UW Health/William S. Middleton VA Hospital Celebrate Graduation of Six Local Project SEARCH Interns

Project SEARCH Program Prepares Young Adults with Disabilities for Rewarding Careers

project search graduates at UW Health — Graduates (L to R): Jomar Rodriguez, Augustine Tatus, Ariel Lettman, Kaitlyn Goldschmidt and Maya Edgoose. A sixth graduate, Liam Higgins, is not pictured. Joining the graduates at the ceremony, which was held at UW Hospital, were MMSD Superintendent Carlton Jenkins (top left), local Project SEARCH site coordinator Jason Penticoff (center) and DWD Assistant Deputy Secretary Danielle Williams (top right).

MADISON – Maya Edgoose has spent the past nine months learning how to manage her time, the energy she needs to perform different work tasks, and what is required to complete a variety of different projects.

All this is thanks to Project SEARCH, a program Maya learned about from a friend who graduated from the program two years ago.

During the program, she enjoyed working with a group of supportive teaches and colleagues, and her favorite job was during her last program rotation working as a medical support assistant at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital.

"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. As employers compete to attract and retain talent, connecting these individuals with opportunities to achieve their employment potential has never been more important."

The recent graduation ceremony at UW Health, 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.

In addition to the host site, the local internship experience was made possible by partners including Madison Area Rehabilitation Center, Madison Metropolitan School District, Dane County Department of Human Services, Aging and Disability Resource Center, and the Department of Workforce Development Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Statewide, 25 premier employers participated in Project SEARCH during the 2021-2022 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 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 Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.