Twelve students recently celebrated a significant milestone as they graduated from the 2024–2025 Project SEARCH program, an internship initiative to prepare young adults with disabilities for competitive employment through immersive workplace experiences.
On Wednesday, May 14, 2025, seven students were honored during a recognition ceremony held at Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center. The graduates from this site include:
• Caitlin Goehler | Wilson School District
• Ayden Gonzalez | Antietam School District
• Ramon Martinez-Alvarez | Reading School District
• Dominic Pineda | Daniel Boone Area School District
• Aydin Roeder | Reading School District
• Seth Smith | Reading School District
• Manuel Teco | Reading School District
A second ceremony was held on Monday, May 19, 2025, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading to recognize the five graduates who served their internship at the DoubleTree location, as follows:
• Stephaine Adams | Reading School District
• Matthew Foose | Fleetwood Area School District
• David Gordon | Reading School District
• Millyan Martinez-Rivera | Reading School District
• Nashanti McCormick | Reading School District
Project SEARCH is a collaborative initiative between the Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU), Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center, and the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading.
Jessica Head, BCIU Program Administrator for School Age Special Education and Student Services, shared, “I am incredibly proud of our interns and the determination this class demonstrated in securing employment. Each student approached their rotations with intention, eagerness, and a drive to learn and grow. We are thrilled to celebrate a 100% competitive employment outcome for all 12 interns in this year’s Project SEARCH of Berks County program.”
The BCIU extends its sincere congratulations to the 2025 Project SEARCH graduates and celebrates their success as a reflection of their commitment, the support of their families and mentors, and the power of strong community partnerships.