Several young area adults with significant disabilities have collectively contributed to an achievement worth celebrating.

All eight students enrolled in the 2024-25 Project SEARCH class at Canadian Valley Technology Center are now employed across the Oklahoma City metro area.

The stellar employment rate earned the local program a 100% Employment Award from the Ohio-based Project SEARCH organization. Of roughly 780 Project SEARCH programs worldwide, only 45 (6 percent) received the award.

“All 8 interns began the program in August and were all placed in community jobs by June,” said program instructor Jill Scott. “The hard work and dedication paid off for the staff, interns and families who support them.”

Project SEARCH is a nine-month school-to-work transition program for young adults (ages 18 to 24) with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program provides students with hands-on work experience while helping them develop the skills needed to successfully enter the workforce.

Locally, INTEGRIS Canadian Valley Hospital in Yukon provides the business environment where CV Tech students receive their training and work experience. Students have gone on to jobs with Amazon, INTEGRIS, Vacca Coffeehouse, SSM Health, Walmart and more.

Project SEARCH is housed at CV Tech’s Cowan Campus near Yukon, where students receive the support and training to take the next step from school into the workplace.