The Project SEARCH Program celebrated the graduation of six students on May 17, 2024, at the Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center.

The graduates are: Reny Casalinovo Robles, Reading School District; Aidan Godshall, Brandywine Heights Area School District; Kahlor Lau, Fleetwood Area School District; Pablo Sanchez Mendez, Reading School District; Jevan Styer, Fleetwood Area School District; and Reymon Vargas Castro, Reading School District.

Project SEARCH is an internship program designed for young adults with disabilities, oﬀering immersive workplace experiences to prepare them for competitive employment. The partnership between Project SEARCH, the Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU), and Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center has created an outstanding educational opportunity for Berks County students.

This year’s graduates completed three internship rotations at the Medical Center, with many securing employment at various locations.

Jessica Head, BCIU Program Administrator for School Age Special Education and Student Services shared, “Each intern proved themselves worthy, time and time again, through three site rotations. They have now reaped the fruits of their labor by either obtaining competitive employment or being so close they can now taste employment. They are limitless. Project SEARCH extends our gratitude to Barb Moyer, our Penn State Health Site Coordinator, for her ﬁve years of dedication to our program. We wish you the best of luck on your upcoming retirement!”

Amanda Bentz, BCIU Project SEARCH Instructor, was brought to tears as she spoke to the close-knit group of interns she had seen blossom throughout the year. Heather Rodriguez, Counselor, Oﬃce of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR); Mark Graboski, Operations Manager, Food & Nutrition Services, Sodexo; and Barb Moyer, Director of Volunteer Services, Penn State Health St. Joseph, also provided heartfelt remarks during the graduation event.

Project SEARCH Graduates Six Students

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