Eight Project SEARCH interns graduated on May 22 at Licking Memorial Hospital!

The conference room of Licking Memorial Hospital was packed on May 22, as families, friends, supporters and hospital staff members gathered to congratulate the eight graduating Project SEARCH interns, during the first ever Project SEARCH graduation in Licking County.

After a beautiful song by Maggie Phillips of Newark, each graduate shared where they had interned in the hospital and what the program has taught them over the last nine months. Seeing them speak with confidence and excitement about their future was amazing!

We would like to congratulate:

• Bryce Carmer, of Newark High School
• Catherine Dunkin, of Granville High School
• David Grover, of Newark High School
• Stephen Tanner Krupp, of Newark High School
• Andreya McCoy, of Heath High School
• Max McDaid, of Licking Heights High School
• Maggie Philips, of Newark High School
• Brittany Shepherd of Newark High School

We are thrilled to share that Bryce, Catherine, Max and Brittany have accepted jobs at Licking Memorial Hospital. Maggie shared during the graduation celebration that she just got a job as a teacher’s aide!

The other three interns are actively looking for employment and LCBDD will fund extended follow-along services, provided by a local provider, to help them find a job that’s a great fit.

LCBDD would like to thank Licking Memorial Health Systems, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, the Licking County ESC, and Greenleaf Job Training Services, Inc. for partnering with our agency to make the first year of Project SEARCH a success. We are looking forward to seeing next year’s group of interns get started in August.

For more information about Project SEARCH, go to lcountydd.org/project-search/

Read the Newark Advocate’s coverage of the graduation by clicking here.