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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
May 31, 2023
CONTACT: DWD Communications
CommunicationsOffice@dwd.wisconsin.gov

DWD, Ascension Mercy Hospital, Celebrate Graduation of Nine Local Project SEARCH Interns

Project SEARCH Program Prepares Young Adults with Disabilities for Rewarding Careers

Jenna Huth at Oshkosh Ascension Mercy Hospital during her Project SEARCH internship.

OSHKOSH – Jenna Huth has enjoyed meeting new friends as a Project SEARCH intern at Ascension Mercy Hospital over the last nine months. She also has enjoyed learning new skills that have prepared her to join Wisconsin's workforce.

"I learned how to communicate with my coworkers and now I feel comfortable having conversations with the people I work with," she said.

Huth is looking forward to finding a part-time job close to her home where she can bag groceries or help stock items on the shelves.

"The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development congratulates nearly 200 Project SEARCH graduates throughout the state for their efforts over the past nine months," said DWD Secretary-designee Amy Pechacek. "These highly motivated interns pushed themselves to explore new opportunities and develop additional life skills that will help them thrive in our state's labor market and bring many talents to any employer."

A Project SEARCH graduation ceremony at Ascension Mercy Hospital on Friday, May 26, in Oshkosh, 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 the Department of Workforce Development's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), Oshkosh Area School District, Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin, Lakeland Care, IRIS, and TMG Wisconsin. 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 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 approximately 1,500 Wisconsin residents since its statewide launch in 2008. For more, visit Project SEARCH Wisconsin.

The graduates of Ascension Mercy Hospital of Oshkosh's Project SEARCH Program pose with their diplomas, alongside DWD Assistant Deputy Secretary Jennifer Sereno. From left to right are Devin Sullivan, Austin Smith, Alex Schrenk, Jennifer Sereno, Leroy Lofton, Natalie Lelinski, Jenna Huth, Logan Hunter, Samuel Anderson, and Asah Hoddel-Pierce.

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.