May marked a milestone for 24 young adults in Northwest Florida as they graduated from Project SEARCH, a national program helping young adults with disabilities transition to employment over the course of a school year. Through Project SEARCH, interns have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a real-world work environment, helping them develop valuable skills that will prepare them for future employment.
As one of the nation’s largest employers of people with disabilities, Global Connections to Employment (GCE) has replicated Project SEARCH sites at five locations across Northwest Florida:
- Baptist Hospital
- Gulf Breeze Hospital
- Innisfree/Hilton Hotel/Pensacola Beach
- Innisfree/Hilton Garden Inn/Ft. Walton Beach
- Santa Rosa Medical Center
Project SEARCH is a collaboration between these five business sites, as well as GCE, Vocational Rehabilitation, Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Santa Rosa County District Schools, Escambia County Public Schools and Okaloosa County School District.
The newest site is Santa Rosa Medical Center, which completed its inaugural year as a Project SEARCH host site. Interns completed rotations in human resources, medical records, patient registration, environmental services and food services.
The addition of the Santa Rosa site reflects the growing demand and success of the program, which has helped thousands of young adults nationwide transition from school to the workforce.
Howard Strickland, GCE employment transition specialist, was based at the Santa Rosa Medical Center site and saw firsthand how the students progressed over the year.
“This first year at Santa Rosa Medical Center has been a tremendous success, with the students learning many skills transferrable to a variety of workplaces, such as customer service, communication, time management, safety, and how to prioritize tasks,” said Strickland. “I’ve been honored to work with these interns and with members of our business community in finding opportunities where these young adults can be successful.”
Across the region, graduation ceremonies brought together families, mentors, coworkers, and community leaders to celebrate the interns’ achievements. For many, it was more than a ceremony—it was a launchpad into a future of independence and inclusion.
Project SEARCH extends its gratitude to the business partners, families, and dedicated site teams whose support makes the program possible. The determination and resilience demonstrated by the graduates continue to serve as a powerful source of inspiration.