Spartan Project SEARCH April 2026
April 2026
Spartan Project SEARCH is a one-year, school-to-work, transition program that provides training and education through internships within departments throughout Michigan State University. Collaboratively, the program prepares young adults with disabilities to enter the workforce with marketable and transferable skills. Spartan Project SEARCH is sponsored by the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
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Spartan Project SEARCH 2025-26 Cohort
During the month of March, interns have been busy participating in activities and continuing to grow their employability skills.
At their internship sites, interns took part in Employment Planning Meetings to review their progress, receive feedback on job performance, and identify areas for improvement. Each intern left their meeting with personalized goals to support their continued skill development.
By the end of March, interns successfully completed their second internship, with many accomplishing—or making great progress toward—the goals they set.
In the classroom, interns have been learning about making healthy choices, including strategies for managing stress, maintaining a balanced diet, and staying physically active—all important components of becoming successful employees.
We also hosted Skills Day for incoming students applying for next school year. Our current interns did an outstanding job leading activity stations and sharing their experiences in Project SEARCH, helping applicants better understand the program and its impact.
We look forward to kicking off Internship Three and beginning the job search process after spring break!
Save the Date!
4/6 Return From Spring Break - Start Internship 3
4/15 Half Day - Dismissal at 11am
4/17 Transition Program Spring Dance (PM)
5/1 Half Day- Dismissal at 11am
Internship #2: Job Sites & Supervisors: Thank You
Gallery Dining Hall - Eric Smith
MSU Linen Services - Andy Root & Cheryl Whalen
Sparty's at Hubbard - Jesse Mendez & Jane Crouch
Workshop at STEM- Nick Fila
MSU Child Development Center- Kaitlin Allen
Biomedical Custodial- Judy Ramirez
Case Dining Hall- Kara Peruchietti
Vivarium- Kim Williamson
Tiffany @ The Gallery
Kahlil @ Linen Services
Jacob @ Sparty's Cafe
Jameson @ Workshop
Annika @ MSU Child Development Center
Angel @ Biomedical
Project SEARCH Collaboration
Statewide Professional Development
Our team attended a professional development day hosted by Michigan Project SEARCH. It was an incredible gathering of business liaisons, transition staff, instructors, and community partners- all coming together to collaborate and brainstorm ways to improve opportunities and increase success for our interns.
It was a great day of seeing our fellow Project SEARCH team members from across the state and we're excited to bring back new ideas and continue growing together.
Classroom Learning Time
Class March Madness Bracket Challenge
Learning how stress impacts our body
Making How-To Lessons
Group lunch at skills day
Graduate Spotlight
On the Banks of the Red Cedar
Skills Assessment Day
Applicants for the 2026-27 school year joined us for our Skills Day, where they rotated through hands-on stations led by our staff from Ingham ISD, and community partners from Michigan Rehabilitation Services, and Michigan State University.
Current interns played an important role in the event by helping run the stations and sharing their experiences with applicants. They were able to talk about what to expect in the program and offer helpful insights from their own journeys.
It was a great opportunity for applicants to learn more about the program while seeing the confidence and leadership our interns have developed. We're excited for the future and proud of everyone who helped make the day a success!
Hiring Updates
Did you know Spartan Project SEARCH averages 78% interns hired each year?
2024-25 Cohort: 6/8 hired
2023-24 Cohort: 7/7 hired
Apply for Project SEARCH
If you are interested in applying for Spartan Project SEARCH, you can find more information on our website at Spartan Project SEARCH.
Spartan Project SEARCH Program Videos
In The News
Stay Informed
The Project SEARCH monthly newsletter was created to share stories with our community. Please forward this newsletter to your colleagues, family and community members.
If you are interested in Spartan Project SEARCH and/or would like to host an intern, please contact Instructor Brooke Locher.
