WVU Hospitals celebrates fourth Project SEARCH graduating class

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The fourth class of Project SEARCH interns graduated from the WVU Medicine WVU Hospitals (WVUH) program today (May 22).  

Project SEARCH, first established at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in 1996, is an internship experience for high school seniors or recently graduated students with mild and moderate disabilities. WVUH is the first site in West Virginia to host the program.

Once accepted into the program, student interns report to WVUH instead of their home school district classroom for the entire school year. During this time, they gain real-world employment experience rotating through job roles and departments. Project SEARCH serves as the student interns’ capstone educational experience and often leads to employment once the internships are complete.

This year’s graduates include:

• Brian Blackwood, who graduated from Fairmont Senior High School. Brian has completed rotations in the Gift Shop, Environmental Services (EVS), and WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital Nutrition Services. Brian has accepted a position with EVS at WVU Hospitals.
• Makia “Kia” Bowen, who graduated from East Fairmont High School. Kia has completed rotations at Bright Horizons Childcare Development Center, Rosenbaum Family House, and WVU Medicine Children’s Child Life Activities Center. Kia has accepted a position at Owlet Daycare in Fairmont.
• Dylan Daughtery, who was a home school student. He completed rotations in Infection Control, Administration, and Central Supply. Dylan has accepted a position as a hand hygiene observer at WVUH.
• Jana Fletcher, who is a graduate of Morgantown High School. Jana completed rotations in 10 West and WVU Medicine Children’s Nursing Services. She has accepted a position on 10 West as a clinical associate.  
• Hayden Hamon, who is a graduate of Morgantown High School. He has completed rotations in Facilities, Sterile Processing, and Supply Chain. Hayden has accepted a position as a hand hygiene observer and as a pharmacy tech at WVUH.
• Kwasi Lawer-Yolar, who is a graduate of University High School. He has completed rotations in Radiology, Nutrition Services, and EVS. Kwasi has accepted a position in Nutrition Services at WVUH.  
• James “Jimmy” Saucer, who graduated from Preston County High School. He has completed rotations in Central Transport, Physical Therapy, and 10 West Nursing. Jimmy has accepted a position in Central Transport at WVUH.  

“It has been a pleasure to work with this cohort of interns,” Kimberly Hartsell, Volunteer Services director and Project SEARCH business liaison, said. “Their transformations from their first day with us to graduation is astounding. These students have learned how to work as members of a team and communicate with their peers and managers. Several of them also learned how to drive and obtained their drivers’ licenses through the program. The skills they have learned will help them be successful as they enter the workforce.”

Project SEARCH is coordinated and hosted by WVU Hospitals and supported by:

• the West Virginia Department of Education;
• the WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities;
• West Virginia University;
• the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services;
• local school systems in Marion, Monongalia, Preston, and Taylor counties;
• PACE Enterprises;
• the Mitsubishi Electric Foundation; and
• Bright Horizons Childcare Development Center.

For more information on WVU Medicine, visit WVUMedicine.org.