For Lacie Egan — the Project SEARCH program at Licking Memorial Health Systems (LMHS) has been an opportunity to try new things.
As an intern on the Labor and Delivery floor, she’s learning to clean rooms, restock supplies and pack up gift bags and information packets for the new moms and their babies.
She’s also learning to advocate for herself and take initiative to start new tasks.
As the Utica High School student prepares to graduate, her goal is that these new skills and experiences will help prepare her for life after high school.
In its eighth year in Licking County, Project SEARCH gives young adults with disabilities the opportunity to spend an entire school year at LMHS, completing three internships in different departments of the hospital.
The program is a partnership between the hospital, the Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, the Licking Regional Educational Service Center and Greenleaf Job Training Services, Inc.
The group of eight interns are already halfway through their time at LMHS and are constantly updating their resumes and portfolios with things they’ve learned.
Lacie’s first internship was in LMHS Concierge Services. She was nervous when she started but by the end of her time there, she was feeling more confident.

She’s hopeful that she’ll continue to learn and stretch outside her comfort zone.
Evie Smith, a student at Newark High School, is interning in the Acute Rehab Department after spending several months with Culinary Services.
Not only did she learn about cleaning and stocking different food items, but she also got the opportunity to train with a Project SEARCH graduate working in the hospital’s cafe.
Now she’s focused on cleaning and preparing rooms with a goal of also learning some administrative tasks and assembling the chem kits that will be used throughout the hospital.