BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. — Eight students in Blount County who participated in a program meant to help them develop life skills and connect them with employers, effectively giving them support as they become adults, graduated on April 20.
The program is called Project SEARCH. It is meant to help students with special needs transition from school and into adulthood, making sure they have the life skills and connections necessary to start supporting themselves.
Through the program, the students connected with employers at Hilton, Maryville College Metz Cafe, Blount Memorial Hospital and Home Depot. Every student who participated in Project SEARCH graduated with a job, according to a release from organizers.
The program has operated in Blount County Schools for eight years. In that time, all of their interns were offered jobs and 39 were still employed as of Thursday.