WVU Hospitals welcomes new Project SEARCH interns with first-day parade
Current class represents three North Central West Virginia counties
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The seventh Project SEARCH class of interns received an enthusiastic welcome to WVU Hospitals (WVUH) as employees lined the halls of WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital to cheer them on during the program’s annual Welcome Parade.
WVUH Human Resources and program leaders.
The first-day tradition allows employees to greet the interns as they make their way through the hospital to their Project SEARCH classroom, officially beginning a year of learning, professional growth, and hands-on work experience.
Project SEARCH is an internationally recognized transition-to-work program that prepares young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities for competitive employment.
This year’s class of nine interns will spend the year immersed in the hospital environment, completing rotations in various departments while working alongside WVU Medicine employees and mentors. Through those experiences, interns develop workplace skills while building confidence and greater independence.
The 2026-27 intern class includes:
- Cherokee Biggs – Taylor County
- Isaac Burkett – Marion County
- Joshua Lauer – Monongalia County
- Nathan Pierson – Marion County
- Michael Priestly – Marion County
- Townsend Stemple – Monongalia County
- Jarrett Thomas – Monongalia County
- Matthew Weekly – Marion County
- Travis Workman – Taylor County, WV
The WVUH program has also distinguished itself nationally for helping interns successfully transition into the workforce.
“Out of more than 800 Project SEARCH sites nationwide, WVU Hospitals' site is number one with its employment outcomes,” Cindy Beneke, Project SEARCH worldwide coordinator with the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services, said.
WVU Hospitals was the first Project SEARCH host site in West Virginia and continues to provide interns with opportunities to gain real-world experience in a healthcare setting while preparing for meaningful employment.
Project SEARCH is coordinated and hosted by WVU Hospitals and supported by the Marion, Monongalia, Preston, and Taylor County school systems; PACE Enterprises; the Mitsubishi Electric Foundation; and Bright Horizons Childcare Development Center.
After successful completion of their rotations and requirements, the interns will graduate in May 2027.
For more information on WVU Medicine, visit WVUMedicine.org.
For media inquiries: Karin Janiszewski, Director, Communications and Public Relations - [email protected]