 |
| On hand for the introduction of Southwestern Community College’s first Project SEARCH® interns were, from left: Christy Reagan, clinical education specialist at Harris Regional and Project SEARCH® business liaison; Dillon Ford, intern from Franklin; William Woodley, intern from Franklin; Chris Shular, intern from Whittier; Leanna Fisher, intern from Bryson City; David Boyd, with Smoky Mountain LME/MCO; Matthew Jenkins, intern from Franklin; Danielle Chambless, career readiness instructor and job coach at SCC; Devonne Jimison, SCC’s Project SEARCH® coordinator; and Cheryl Rogers, with NC Vocational Rehab. |
As Southwestern Community College’s first Project SEARCH® interns introduced themselves to their new supervisors Friday morning, Glenda Shular stood beaming quietly off to the side.
Clearly, this was a moment worth savoring.
Shular’s son Chris was one of six special needs students who’ll be learning job skills at Harris Regional Hospital this fall. They were introduced to a room filled with WestCare Health department directors and Project SEARCH® program coordinators.
“Even before he was selected to be part of this program, I was tickled to death to hear about it,” said Glenda Shular, who lives in Whittier. “It’s long overdue, in my opinion. It’s great to see an organization in the community recognize that these people have something to offer.
“Unfortunately, it has been my experience that a lot of employers only seem to notice what my son and others can’t do,” Shular added. “I’m so pleased that WestCare is looking at what Chris and the other interns can contribute. Chris has been smiling all day. His niece and nephew (Logan and Josie, ages eight and four) already told him how proud they are of him. His big sister Laura, who’s always been a huge advocate for him, is also tickled pink for him. I wish my parents (Lilly Mae and Newman Shular) had been around to see this.”
Project SEARCH® is a national non-profit program which partners with businesses to create internships for young adults with disabilities.
SCC and Harris Regional this summer entered into a partnership to bring Project SEARCH® to Jackson County. The program allows men and women ages 18-30 with disabilities to gain marketable and transferrable employability skills through the implementation of hands-on work experience during a series of three separate, 10-week internships matched to their individual interests, strengths, and abilities.
“I feel very touched by these interns,” said Devonne Jimison, SCC’s Project SEARCH® coordinator. “I’m impressed by them and by how personable they were in a room like that. And I’m so impressed by the hospital administrators who’ve seen that these students can become valuable employees.”
The interns will attend class then serve their internships, four days a week, this fall at Harris Regional.
Their excitement at the new opportunity was palpable throughout Friday’s proceedings.
“I’m happy to be in this program, and I’m ready to (have a job and) start making money,” said Dillon Ford, a 23-year-old intern from Franklin.
His buddy, 20-year-old Matthew Jenkins of Franklin, gave a huge smile and a thumbs-up when asked how he felt about starting his internship.
“I’m excited, and I think everybody is,” said Conda Bradley, who helps Ford through the Assisted Family Living program. “It’s their opportunity to shine and be successful. They can do so much more than people realize.”
Other community partners for Project SEARCH® are NC Vocational Rehabilitation, Smoky Mountain Center LME/MCO and Vocational Opportunities of Cherokee.
Christy Reagan, who’s the clinical education specialist at Harris Regional, said the new interns and Project SEARCH® have been warmly received. Reagan also serves as business liaison for Project SEARCH®.
“I think it’s wonderful,” Reagan said. “It’s a great opportunity. We’ve had a similar association in the past with high school students, and two of them are still employed here. Our staff is very open to this and excited about it. Anetra Jones (chief nursing officer at Westcare) has worked with Project SEARCH® at a previous hospital where she was employed, so she’s very excited about it.”
For more information on WestCare’s Project SEARCH® program, contact Christy Reagan, RN, BSN, CPN, Clinical Education Specialist at 828.586.7886.
To learn more about the information meeting, partnering with Project SEARCH®, or recruiting interns, contact Danielle Chambless, SCC Career Readiness Instructor/Job Coach at 828.306.7036 or Devonne Jimison, local Project SEARCH® instructor at 828-339-4486.
