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Project SEARCH Program Launched at The Evergreen State College
Morningside, in partnership
with The Evergreen State
College and the Olympia
School District, proudly
announces the launch of a
new Project SEARCH program
at TESC! Project SEARCH
began in Cincinnati Children’s
Hospital as a program to
partner a large community employer with a community
rehabilitation program
such as Morningside. The
program enables people with
disabilities the opportunity
to work at jobs that otherwise
would not have been
available to them without the
partnership. Morningside’s
program is unique in that it
is an internship program for
high school students with
disabilities. The seven students
are in their last year of school
and getting ready to transition
to the working world. The
program introduces them to
a multitude of skills and work
environments as part of a
rotating work internship experience at the
college. Students get the opportunity to
rotate three times during the year through
various departments on the Evergreen
campus. The goal for each student is to
identify an area of interest and develop
the skills necessary to secure employment
in that field by the end of the school year.
The goal of the partnership is to make the
transition of services and skills learned
from the education system to the working
world and adult life as seamless as possible.
The Project SEARCH program has been replicated
in several states, including by Morningside at the
Olympic Medical Center in Port
Angeles. However, this is the
first college in the West to host
a Project SEARCH program and
also the only one to incorporate
a High School Transition
Program element. The program
came together as a result of an
enthusiastic partnership between
Morningside, the Olympia School
District, and The Evergreen
State College - all organizations
known for innovative programs!
Generous financial support to
launch the program was received
from several foundations with the
M.J. Murdock Trust contributing
the lead gift to make the program
a reality. TESC was chosen
because of its mission “to sustain
a vibrant academic community
and offer students an education
that will help them excel in their
intellectual, creative, professional
and community service goals.”
One of their guiding principles is
a commitment to public service
and reciprocal local, regional,
and national partnerships as well
as diversity in its student population. It was a
natural fit. The Olympia School District was also
excited about the program, the partnership, and
the immense benefits for its students.
A reception celebrating the program launch
and the students involved was held on
October 7 at the Evergreen campus library. Dr.
Les Purce, TESC President, John Hurley, VP
Finance and Administration, and Holly Colbert
Joseph, TESC Program Liaison were on hand
to recognize the students. Bill Lahmann, OSD
Superintendent and TESC and Morningside staff were
also on hand to celebrate the kick-off of this innovative
and exciting new program.
Read the rest of the fall newsletter here.
ISSUE 18 •
FALL 2009
Previous Issues of Morningside's Newsletter:
Fall 2009 Newsletter
Summer 2009 Newsletter

Spring 2009 Newsletter

Winter 2009 Newsletter

Fall 2008 Newsletter
Morningside Annual Reports:

2009 Morningside Annual Report
Other Morningside News:
Morningside awarded three-year CARF accreditation

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