Page 9 - JobReady-August 2017 Issue

Project SEARCH Sends Off Participants Ready for Work
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ince 2014, when the first Jonesboro.
group of interns graduated “Our state needs Project
Sfrom Project SEARCH , it is SEARCH ,” said Alan McClain,
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nearly impossible to find a dry eye Commissioner for Arkansas
during the closeout ceremony. Each Rehabilitation Services, at the UAMS
participant gives an emotional tribute graduation ceremony. “The world
of thanks to the people they believe needs Project SEARCH , and I am
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played an important role to reaching so thankful for your commitment to
the milestone. see it through and to graduate and
“I began to think my disability to help promote Project SEARCH ®
didn’t make me the right fit. Little did throughout the world. You’re going
I know at the time that this is where to impact so many people.”
I belonged,” said Bryan Purifoy, who Project SEARCH boasts of Melinda Spradling, (left) Project SEARCH
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completed the Project SEARCH ® placing more than ninety six percent Coordinator at Arkansas Children’s Hospital,
program at Arkansas Children’s of interns into jobs. Many of them consoles Christon Jones, a graduate, during the
Hospital. already have a job by the time they ceremony.
Project SEARCH is fully finish the program.
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funded by Arkansas Rehabilitation Samuel Langston, who
Services, a division of the Arkansas completed the UAMS model,
Department of Career Education. has a full-time job at the Dillard’s
University of Arkansas for Medical Distribution Center.
Sciences (UAMS) was the first “Project SEARCH has helped
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site for Project SEARCH in me pursue my dreams to becoming
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Arkansas. Now, models have been independent while having a disability.
implemented at CHI St. Vincent It helped me to become capable of
in Hot Springs, Ouachita County accomplishing things that I didn’t see
Medical Center in Camden, and myself doing,” Langston said. Savion Battles accepts his certificate from
St. Bernards Medical Center in UAMS Chancellor Dan Rahn, M.D.

Alma Students Help to Make a Dream Come True

West Fork Middle School and created a strategic plan to raise
Student is heading to Disney funds for the cause. They raised it
A World, thanks to the efforts through various fund raisers, such
made by the Alma High DECA and as selling foam fingers, beads, and
Student Council organizations. community discount cards.
The two student groups raised Alma students notified Rosie that
more than $8,000 for the Make-A-Wish she would be going to Disney World.
program, a charity initiative to fulfill “I never knew Make-A-Wish
a wish for children living with life- had such a huge impact on the child
threatening illnesses. getting the wish granted until I got to
“I think that it is amazing that a see it with my own eyes,” said Abigail West Fork Middle School Student, Rosie,
group of students are able and willing Langley, a junior at Alma High. is heading to Disney World thanks to a
group of Alma High School Students.
to work together and create such a DECA is one of the state's career
special moment for a Wish Kid out and technical student organizations
of the goodness in their hearts,” said and is managed by the Student and entrepreneurs for careers in
Martin Dyer, a sophomore at Alma Leadership Center, established by marketing, finance, hospitality, and
High. the Department of Career Education. management in high schools and
The students formed a committee DECA prepares emerging leaders colleges around the globe.

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