LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — Project SEARCH interns gave local school leaders a tour of their work today at Mercy Health–St. Rita’s, showing what a typical day on the job looks like.
The workforce development program, offered through Apollo Career Center and Mercy Health, helps local students with developmental challenges build job skills through hands-on work experience.
Interns enter the program after their senior year of high school and complete three 10-week rotations in different departments around the hospital.
Interns enter the program after their senior year of high school and complete three 10-week rotations in different departments around the hospital.
Jakya Gary, a 2025 Shawnee graduate, has worked in the Women’s Wellness Center and is now completing a rotation in the hospital kitchen.
She says the program has helped her build both work skills and friendships.
“Being a hard worker, being nice to people and just being around people that you know. And you can make friends too,” Gary said.
“Not only are they getting work experience, they’re also getting adulting skills. Like ‘what do we do with our paycheck,’ ‘what do taxes mean,’ ‘what do we do with a W-2,’ ‘how do we fill out onboarding paperwork?’ So when they get here, they’re so used to being in school and shuffling around from class to class. Here, they have to be responsible for themselves,” said Leigh Taylor, Project SEARCH coordinator and instructor.
This year’s class will graduate May 15.
Graduating seniors interested in joining the 2026-27 class can find more information here.
