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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 2, 2023
CONTACT: DWD Communications
CommunicationsOffice@dwd.wisconsin.gov

DWD, Mayo Clinic Health System Celebrate Graduation of Eight Local Project SEARCH Interns

Project SEARCH Program Prepares Young Adults with Disabilities for Rewarding Careers

Project SEARCH intern Casey Heller smiles to her family while giving remarks at the Mayo Clinic of Eau Claire graduation ceremony.

EAU CLAIRE – Casey Heller will remember many things during her nine-month internship at the Mayo Clinic, but what she will remember most is her second intern rotation. Thanks to the training and experiences she gained through Project SEARCH, Casey now knows what she'd like to do as a career.

"My favorite job was in childcare, I really liked working with kids. Why? Because there is nothing better than seeing them get excited when they see me each day," she said. Casey is proud to let everyone know she has accepted a teacher assistant position with a local daycare.

"The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development is excited to celebrate nearly 200 Project SEARCH graduates throughout the state, who pushed themselves to explore new opportunities, developed additional life skills, and are proud of the rewarding work they have done the past nine months," said DWD Secretary-designee Amy Pechacek. "In Wisconsin, more employers every day are hiring from the state's diverse and talented pool of career seekers, and programs like Project SEARCH are only making the case for why people with disabilities contribute tremendous value to any employer's workforce."

The graduation ceremony at the Mayo Clinic on Thursday, June 1 in Eau Claire, 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 Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), Eau Claire Area School District, L.E. Phillips Career Development Center, Inclusa and, TMG Wisconsin.

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.

DWD Assistant Deputy Secretary Jennifer Sereno (left) with Project SEARCH graduates at Mayo Clinic in Eau Claire. From left to right are Casey Heller, Nathan Zirngibl, Nathen Helland, Cole Warner, Carlos Wollmer, Jessa Martin, Raynna Heiderscheid, and Chloe Kleinschmidt.

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.