Successful in their SEARCH
Courtesy photo Coeur d’Alene High School graduate Porter Gann, 20, stocks watermelons at Costco during his final rotation of the Project SEARCH program this spring. Gann graduated from Project SEARCH during a ceremony Wednesday. He is currently looking for employment as a merchandise stocker or courtesy clerk. “He has great references,” said program instructor Theresa Moran. “He has several applications out to retailers here.”
Courtesy photo Lake City High School and Project SEARCH graduate Jackie Hinkelmann, 20, proudly displays the folder she received announcing she was hired as an office clerk at Mountain West Bank after her interview this spring. Hinkelmann was one of six 2018 graduates to complete the Project SEARCH program, which introduces young adults with disabilities to the workforce and gives them hands-on internship training.
Alec Hurlocker, 20, was hired as a production line team member at Tedder Industries in Post Falls before he even graduated from Project SEARCH, which held its commencement ceremony Wednesday. The Lake City High School grad is pictured here during his May 23 orientation with the company. (Courtesy photo)
By DEVIN WEEKS
Staff Writer
COEUR d’ALENE — It was a momentous year for Project SEARCH.
Five of six program graduates have already been hired, and, through the new business mentorship element, stronger connections have been made with the local business community to give this year's grads and their successors even more opportunities as they transition into the workforce.
"The students emailed business mentors and talked to them about work. The mentors wrote back and answered their questions," Project SEARCH instructor Theresa Moran said Thursday. "It's amazing how the personalities worked out, how they all clicked together."
The graduates were celebrated in a ceremony at the Kootenai Health Resource Center early Wednesday evening, where more than 150 people watched their presentations and learned about how this school-year-long work training program has changed their lives and prepared them for their futures.
"The students did amazing presentations, recognizing the staff they worked with throughout the year as well as their business mentors," Moran said. "To hear the students talk from their hearts about the confidence they gained and the appreciation they had for their mentors, it was so touching. The mentors were just beaming with pride."
Completing Project SEARCH is indeed a proud accomplishment for those who go through it. The program helps young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities become acquainted with life after high school, providing them with three rotations of internships at different businesses so they can explore a variety of career paths.
This year's grads overcame challenges such as high-functioning autism and medical fragility as they worked their way through the program, which is in its eighth year. They've landed jobs at Mountain West Bank, the Kroc Center, Mongolian BBQ, the Coeur d'Alene School District and Tedder Industries. One grad, who interned at Costco, is still seeking employment and ready for the opportunity to work.
"This was an amazing year with phenomenal success," Moran said. "We really do attribute it to our close relationship with the business community throughout the year."
Moran also praised Amy Reynolds, senior vice president human resource manager of Mountain West Bank, for stepping in as the program's business liaison.
"Amy Reynolds has done an amazing job all year," Moran said. "She's involved in the Human Resource Network of North Idaho. Through that she has a ton of connections with other people in our community."
Reynolds said she has "adopted Project SEARCH" and is committed to helping out as long as possible.
"It’s been very rewarding to be a part of Project SEARCH. It's amazing to see the progress the interns have made from a year ago, and all the hard work they've put in," she said. "It's also been very easy to get volunteers to be business mentors. People are so willing to help out once they know about the mission."
Project SEARCH is a program of the Coeur d'Alene School District and is supported by Kootenai Health, the Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Tesh, Inc., Ability Works and the business advisory council, including Mountain West Bank, Integrated Personnel, Coeur d'Alene School District, Kootenai Health, The Coeur d'Alene Resort, the Kroc Center and Kootenai County.
Although the next wave of interns has already been selected and will start in September, those who are interested in participating the following year can contact Moran at 208-625-5799.
Info: www.cdaschools.org/projectsearch or www.facebook.com/ProjectSearchCDA/