Project SEARCH students graduate in ceremonies at Ft. Eustis and Sentara CarePlex sites

 

The Hampton school division celebrates and congratulates the 2025 Project SEARCH Sentara CarePlex and Project SEARCH Ft. Eustis graduates. HCS honors nine graduates from three of its four high schools.

 

Project SEARCH is a work-based learning initiative where students with disabilities are immersed in a real-world working environment. In this program, employees at host sites act as mentors, sharing their expertise and experience with students, thereby transforming the educational approach in Hampton City Schools. Students find Project SEARCH transformative as they engage in extensive hands-on skills training and career exploration, receive innovative adaptations, long-term job coaching, and continuous feedback from teachers, skills trainers, and employers. Originating at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, this model effectively helps students achieve their goals of competitive employment, gaining confidence, self-determination, and independence.

 

The Project SEARCH Transition-to-Work Program is a unique, business-led, one-year employment preparation program that takes place entirely at the workplace. Over 900 hours of total workplace immersion facilitates a seamless combination of classroom instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training through worksite rotations. The program culminates in individualized job development.

 

“Hampton City Schools, in partnership with our community collaborators, offers scholars valuable opportunities to participate in real-world work experiences—helping prepare them for meaningful employment and life success based on their unique strengths, interests, and skills,” said Sherry Hildebrandt, special education transition specialist.

Congratulations to the following student graduates of Project SEARCH:

 

William Birchette – Phoebus High School (Sentara)

Elrie Farrell – Phoebus High School (Ft. Eustis)

Chris Fiegel – Bethel High School (Ft. Eustis)

Jeremiah Fitzgerald – Bethel High School (Sentara)

Tyree Fullerton – Bethel High School (Sentara)

Nya Littlejohn – Phoebus High School (Sentara)

Kadriana Sapp – Bethel High School (Ft. Eustis)

Joseph Singleton – Hampton High School (Sentara)

Omar Taylor – Bethel High School (Sentara)

 

A special thanks to Sentara CarePlex for their partnership in providing work experience in supply chain, health information management, environmental service department, imaging, volunteer services, cafeteria/food services, cardiac rehabilitation department, operating room supply, and telemetry.

We also give a special thanks to Ft. Eustis for their partnership in providing work experience in the transportation museum, library, General Smalls Inn, Warrior Café, dental clinic, chapel, Anderson Field House, army community service, the veterinarian, the Whistlestop Thrift Store, Marco’s Pizza, military housing, soldier support, Kingz Bowling Alley, ITT, Red Cross, Fort Eustis Club, commissary, and aquatic center.

*Photos from the Sentara graduation will be posted after the ceremony takes place on Tuesday, June 10.