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    Deaconess Celebrates Graduation of Six Project Search Interns

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    Project Search


    Deaconess Health System celebrated the graduation of six Project SEARCH interns today at Deaconess Gateway Hospital after completing the program’s 10-month internship experience, designed to help recent high school graduates with disabilities transition into the workforce.

    Project SEARCH is a partnership between Deaconess, Southern Indiana Resource Solutions (SIRS) and the Warrick County School Corporation. Since launching at Deaconess in 2011, the program has provided 82 students with hands-on experience in a variety of hospital departments while helping them build job skills, confidence and workplace independence.

    Interns gain experience in departments including environmental services, materials management and the cafeteria. This year also marked the first time interns had the opportunity to rotate on nursing units at Deaconess Gateway Hospital and in the gift shop at The Women’s Hospital. While on nursing units, interns assisted with non-clinical support tasks, including stocking supplies, delivering items, cleaning and helping with general unit needs.

    Deaconess also provides a dedicated classroom space for Project SEARCH students, where interns participate in employability training.

    Brien Frick, a 2025 Boonville High School graduate, said he loved helping keep the hospital clean during his rotation in environmental services.

    “I always wanted to do something for the people at the hospital,” he said. “And I [got to learn]responsibility, communication and time management.”

    “We could not be more excited to celebrate our interns,” said Jasmine Mouncil, Talent Acquisition 

    Team Lead at Deaconess. “The students really care about the work they are doing. They want to be here, and they show up every day with a smile on their face and enjoy working with their managers, so that’s what’s made it so special.”

    Mouncil said Deaconess is currently working with the graduating interns to identify employment opportunities within the health system now that they’ve completed their internships. 

    For more information about Project SEARCH, visit: https://www.sirs.org/transition-to-employmen
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