Spartan Project SEARCH

October 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.

Please forward this newsletter to your colleagues, family and community members.

Internship Updates
This past month, our interns have been hard at work preparing for the start of Internship One. They created professional resumes, practiced their interview skills through mock interviews, and continued travel training to build confidence and independence when using the bus and navigating campus. After completing real interviews with various departments, interns received their official placements and have already begun their first internship experiences. Along the way, they are also learning valuable workplace skills, such as characteristics of a good employee, effective communication, and strategies for solving problems on the job.

Community Spotlight
We were excited to host State Superintendent Malyeko and team members from Ingham Intermediate School District, Michigan State University Business Liaison, representatives from Michigan Assoc. of Administrators of Special Education, and all of our partners for their continued support and commitment to our program.

10/15 Half Day- Dismissal at 11 am & Project SEARCH Statewide Professional Development

10/16 No School & Project SEARCH Statewide Instructors Meeting

Week of 10/21 Employment Planning Meetings

Gallery Dining Hall - Eric Smith

MSU Linen Services - Andy Root

Sparty's at Snyder-Phillips - Booker Hall

Workshop- Nick Fila

MSU Main Library- Heidi Schroeder and Zoe McLaughlin

Case Dining Hall - Kara Peruchiette

Vivarium- Kim Williamson

Biomedical Facilities - Judy Ramirez

We are excited to be in the MSU Homecoming Parade again this year on Friday October 9th.

Please consider walking with us and RSVP to the link below by 10/5 if you are interested.

At the end of September, we had the honor of welcoming our State Superintendent Dr. Glenn Malyeko to our classroom!

Our interns did an AMAZING job presenting about their current internships, sharing the skills they are learning, and discussing their future employment goals. We couldn't be prouder of their confidence and hard work!

A HUGE thank you to Superintendent Maleyko, Ms. Shrewsbury, our incredible team at Ingham Intermediate School District, our Michigan State University Business Liaison, representatives from Michigan Assoc. of Administrators of Special Education , and all of our partners for their continued support and commitment to our program.

Because of partnerships like these, Spartan Project SEARCH can continue empowering young adults with disabilities to develop the independence, confidence, and employability skills needed for a successful future.

Together, we are creating opportunities, building independence, and changing lives—one internship at a time!

Did you know Spartan Project SEARCH averages 78% interns hired each year?

2025-26 Cohort: 8/8 hired

2024-25 Cohort: 7/8 hired

2023-24 Cohort: 7/7 hired

If you are interested in applying for Spartan Project SEARCH, you can find more information on our website at Spartan Project SEARCH.

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.