We couldn’t be prouder to share with you that our own Paul Barth was presented with the Project SEARCH Recognition Award at last week’s end-of-the-year ceremony for the Project SEARCH program at Drexel.

This honor recognizes Paul’s tireless commitment to the Project SEARCH Program, which provides job training and real-life work experience to youth with disabilities. “[Paul] is the epitome of the word dedication,” said Jane Cordero, Secondary Special Education Specialist at Hill Freedman Academy and a Project SEARCH partner.

Cordero presented Paul with the award, and her remarks made clear how integral Paul is to all aspects of the program, from working one-on-one with students, to being the go-to tech guy for families and staff, to being an ambassador for Project SEARCH at conferences around the world.

“He’s been with the program since we started,” said Cordero. “He is knowledgeable about everything, [and is] the link to the students from before the program even starts until they’re into their jobs and becoming successful community members.”

One of the highlights of the ceremony was Paul’s genuine surprise at receiving the award. “This is a big shock to me,” he said. “But it’s not just me that deserves this award. Everyone deserves appreciation in this program, from our partners to our site supervisors to our interns. You make my job easy.” 

Adaptation and innovation were the themes of the day: the ceremony was held online, with program graduates at home but surrounded by friends and family; certificates of program completion were handed out virtually; and Paul was praised for bringing both adaptability and innovation to Project SEARCH these past 6 months, a time in which he transitioned the program from in-person to online on the fly.

“It’s a testament to the students,” said Paul. “It’s a testament to how much they care and how much they invested, and I’m just excited to see their future and where they end up, because they are destined for great things.”

Join us as we raise a virtual toast to Paul and this well-deserved honor, and to the incredible 2019-2020 graduates of Project SEARCH at Drexel. Cheers, too, to our partners at The A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, The School District of Philadelphia, Hill-Freedman World Academy, the PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, and the PADHS’ Division of Intellectual Disability Services.