By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
Get our newsletter
ROCKFORD — A program that helps students with disabilities navigate their way into the workforce is celebrating its latest success stories.
Project Search is a one-year program hosted by RAMP that helps students explore possible careers and gain hands-on training through a combination of classroom instruction and on-the-job internship. The goal is for students to land competitive jobs in their home community.
“Project Search is a program that is changing lives and making an impact,” said Macy Kellenberger, Project Search coordinator for RAMP. “This program has an impact on all the partner organizations involved, on the community, on the future employers and most importantly on the interns.”
More positive news: Rockford Reads kicks off 21st year of volunteer-led literacy program
The program celebrated the commencement of six students in its latest class on Tuesday. After the yearlong internship at Embassy Suites Rockford Riverfront Hotel, all six now have jobs at the downtown skyscraper.
“These guys are awesome,” said Vinny Bucci, general manager of the hotel. “They really care about what they do. They want to be great at what they do.”
Darvis Northrup, who was the first graduate of the two-year-old program to gain employment, got the honors of cutting the ribbon during the ceremony Tuesday hosted by the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.
“He’s a superstar,” Bucci said. “Everybody here totally loves Darvis. He can do no wrong in anybody’s eyes.”
Related: Great food and the best views at The Rooftop Bar & Lounge in Rockford
There have now been 11 students to go through the program in its two-year history. Northrup is seen by Bucci and others as a standout example of success.
“He’s gone so over and above what I thought could happen,” Bucci said. “Anytime I need something I call Darvis because he’s going to make it happen.”
Related: RAMP bolsters focus on mental health to serve those with ‘invisible disabilities’
Northrup, who is 19, works in facilities maintenance for the hotel. He said he learned a lot from the program, but he keeps trying to learn on the job “because what’s life if you know everything.”
“I love waking up knowing that I’m going to see everybody’s faces,” Northrup said. “The team is so amazing and great and I’m lucky that they were able to accept me and have me on the team.”
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.