11 students are first-ever ‘Project Search’ graduating class

JACKSON, Tenn. — A celebration was in order in west Jackson on Friday as the 2016 graduating class of Project Search walked the stage.

The 11 students were the first class to receive their diplomas from the Project Search initiative, which aims to transition students from high school into employment.

The effort is a collaboration of the state’s Vocal Rehabilitation Department, Jackson-Madison County Schools, West Tennessee Healthcare and the STAR Center.

“They went through a lot of frustrations, but they learned a lot from it,” instructor Melissa Whitaker said. “They learned how to handle their behaviors. They learned how to handle themselves in a business-like way where they didn’t know how to do that.”

The STAR Center’s President Dave Bratcher spoke at Friday’s ceremony.