On May 21, a graduation ceremony was held at McLeod Regional Medical Center for students in the Project SEARCH Transition-to-Work Program. This event celebrated the fifth year of the Project SEARCH program at McLeod.

Project Search is a unique, one-year business-led, student-preparation program that take place entirely in the workplace. During the school year, Florence 1 Schools partner with McLeod Regional Medical Center, Pee Dee AHEC, South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department and the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs to implement Project SEACH. Through this collaboration, there have been 27 work-ready students over the past five years who have graduated through the partnership with McLeod.

“Our Project SEARCH interns do not just learn in a department; rather they are a part of the department and become integral members of a team,” said Matthew Peake, McLeod Health Careers Program Coordinator. “The interns are not treated like students but held accountable and therefore respected as peers. Departments who partner with Project SEARCH have been positively impacted by the inclusivity that this program reinforces.”

The McLeod Regional Project SEARCH will be entering its sixth year of operation in August as we continue this unique workforce pipeline. Over the past five years, many students have successfully transitioned from intern to employee and are still employed at McLeod Regional Medical Center.

Pictured left to right: The Class of 2024 Project SEARCH Transition-to-Work Program graduates include from left to right: Jalen Williams, Shya Roary, Delosh Pickens, and Jada McGee.