06/19/2026
52 Weeks of Goodwill, Week 25: This month, Goodwill proudly celebrated ten Project SEARCH graduates at UPMC Mercy Hospital!
Throughout our year-long Project SEARCH program, our interns completed work rotations in various hospital departments, gaining hands-on experience to learn the responsibilities of each role. In each rotation, the interns worked alongside UPMC team members and received individual career counseling. Additionally, the Project SEARCH team helped our interns develop essential workplace skills, including professional communication, workplace etiquette, interview preparation, and social skills.
When reflecting on their experience in Project SEARCH, interns Matt and Riti shared:
"I was skeptical at first but realized I really learned a lot of transferable skills...I am happy I came to Project SEARCH." - Matt.
"I learned that how to be patient, communicate, self-advocate, ask questions...and how to problem solve." - Riti
Now that Project SEARCH has concluded, our interns are finding meaningful employment in different careers within our community, as well as working on ways to become more independent, such as obtaining a driver's license.
Congratulations to our graduates, Connor, Keegan, Wyatt, Peyton L., Matt, Aiden, Riti, Alaijah, Peyton T., and Lyeneil!
Learn more about our Project SEARCH program here: https://www.goodwillswpa.org/life-changing-services/disability-services/youth-disability-services/project-search/
