The event honored interns Ky, Saul, Tirso, Manny, and Dillon, who spent the school year gaining real-world work experience alongside healthcare professionals across multiple departments within the hospital. Family members, District staff, program partners, and Kaiser Permanente employees gathered to celebrate the students’ accomplishments and growth throughout the program.
Project SEARCH is a workforce development program that provides students with disabilities opportunities to gain practical job experience in inclusive workplace settings. Through rotations in various departments, students develop workplace skills, independence, confidence, and career readiness while exploring potential employment pathways.
Throughout the year, the interns worked in departments including Nurse Education, Optometry, Supply Chain and Materials Management, Food Services, Internal Medicine, Volunteer Services, Administration, Urology, and Physical Therapy. In addition to learning job-specific responsibilities, students practiced workplace communication, developed socialization skills, learned to navigate public transportation independently, and contributed meaningful work that supported daily hospital operations.
During the celebration, students reflected on their experiences in the program. Guest speakers also recognized the impact of the program and the importance of creating inclusive pathways to career success for individuals of all abilities.
As part of the ceremony, Baldwin Park Unified School District Senior Director of Special Education Sarah Ammon presented certificates recognizing each intern's successful completion of the program.
The District expressed gratitude to Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park, the East San Gabriel Valley Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA), and to local agencies for their partnership and commitment to supporting students through meaningful career training experiences.