Norman, OK - Cheers, applause, and joy filled the room today as Norman Public Schools and its community partners celebrated the 10th anniversary of Project SEARCH and the graduation of the Class of 2025. The milestone event, hosted at Embassy Suites by Hilton Norman, honored a decade of student success and the extraordinary growth of this life-changing program.
Launched in Norman in 2014, Project SEARCH is a national transition-to-work program that provides immersive, workplace-based internships for high school students with disabilities. The 2024–2025 school year marked the program’s 10th year in Norman, and the impact has been remarkable.
Through a unique partnership between Norman Public Schools, Embassy Suites by Hilton Norman, the University of Oklahoma’s National Center for Disability Education and Training, the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services, and Dale Rogers Training Center, the program equips interns aged 18 to 22 with the real-world skills they need to succeed in competitive, integrated employment.
Each intern completes three 10-week internships in departments such as banquet service, housekeeping, laundry, maintenance, culinary services, and food and beverage outlets. In addition to hands-on job training, interns also attend daily classroom instruction focused on building life and employment skills such as communication, teamwork, interviewing, resume writing, financial management, and health education.
Since its inception, Norman’s Project SEARCH Academy has graduated 60 students, with seven completing the program during the 2024–2025 school year. These students were recognized during today’s ceremony for their growth, perseverance, and accomplishments.
“This program changes lives,” said Dr. Nick Migliorino, Superintendent of Norman Public Schools. “Over the past year we’ve watched students transform into strong workers, leaders, and problem-solvers. To our graduates: even when the days were tough, you kept going. Today, we celebrate not just your accomplishments, but your resilience, growth, and the incredible people you’ve become. You’re ready for whatever comes next.”
The hospitality industry has proven to be an ideal training ground, offering a wide variety of job opportunities within a single facility. Students graduate from the program not only with diverse work experience, but also with the confidence and preparation to secure sustainable employment after high school.
“We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with Embassy Suites by Hilton,” said Sara Newsome, program instructor. 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."
As Project SEARCH in Norman enters its second decade, the mission remains the same: to open doors to meaningful employment and independence for students with disabilities, and to celebrate every step of the journey.