Project SEARCH Academy

The 2024-2025 school year marks 10 years for Norman’s Project SEARCH Academy. The program aims to provide integrated and competitive employment opportunities for students with disabilities, provides workplace training through non-paid internships for students between 18 and 22 years old.

Seven students completed the program during the 2023-2024 school year. Each student completed three, 10-week internships in areas such as banquet service, housekeeping, laundry, maintenance, food/beverage outlets and culinary services. Students learned transferable job skills for future employment and also participated in hour-long sessions focused on teamwork, communication, interviewing, resume writing, financial management, and health.

Since the program's inception in 2015, 49 students have completed Project SEARCH Academy.

Participating in Project SEARCH has been the best thing to happen to Sam in all of their years of education! We’ve seen Sam grow and blossom incredibly over the last year—they got their driver’s license, learned to function completely independently, and best of all, greatly enjoyed working as a team with others. Their confidence has grown incredibly, and they are showing real leadership potential. Thanks to what they have learned, Sam is now a confident, kind, hard-worker who has landed their first job! We can’t thank Project SEARCH enough for all they have done."

Theresa Vaughan and Kieran Mullen

Parents of 2024 Graduate

The program is made possible through a unique partnership between Norman Public Schools, Embassy Suites by Hilton Norman, OU National Center for Disability Education and Training, the Department of Rehabilitation Services, and Dale Rogers Training Center.

The hospitality industry offers a wide variety of occupations within one building and students leave with a wide range of job skills and experience. At the conclusion of the program, students have completed high school and are often successful at securing sustainable employment.

We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with Embassy Suites by Hilton. They are a wonderful host business and truly care about the success of this program. Project SEARCH has provided students and families an impactful experience by providing instruction in self-advocacy, integrity, and responsibility all while mastering vocational tasks around the hotel. Our goal is to help our interns achieve their maximum potential."

Sara Newsome

Project SEARCH Instructor

Graduates of Project SEARCH