‘LIGHT IN COMMUNITY’: Four new Project Search interns graduate from program at Merit Health Natchez

NATCHEZ — Four young and special Merit Health Natchez interns graduated Thursday from the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services’ Project Search program, which prepares the graduates for a sustainable future in the workforce and in life.  

The graduates Keimon Frazier, Darian Dee, Delmaree McKnight and Trennis Ware will all soon have careers that are best suited to them.  

Ware might soon have a career opportunity at Merit Health Natchez. McKnight has already accepted a position at First Presbyterian Playschool. Dee is exploring work opportunities at GoMart on U.S. 61 and Frazier could potentially land a job at Natchez City Hall close to his grandfather, Ward 2 Alderman Billie Joe Frazier, Project Search instructor Ronnie Calhoun said.

“I don’t like saying that we got them ‘a job,’” Calhoun said. “Because that isn’t setting them up for success. I like to say we got them the right job. Because somebody somewhere is going to be there to water that seed.”

 Calhoun said the Project Search, like every positive thing a person does to reach one individual, has “a butterfly effect, because you never know who that person is going to reach.”

Turning to the graduates, he said, “Your story isn’t over today. This is just the beginning. You are going to go out into the world and do amazing things.”  

Each person involved in some aspect of the program who attended the graduation on Thursday in the Magnolia Room at Merit Health Natchez had something positive to say about the program and its interns.  

“I’m grateful that I get to play a very small part in this program,” said Merit Health Natchez CEO Kevin Samrow. “I think Project Search is a wonderful program that brings a lot of value to our community and I feel lucky for the small piece I get to play in that. I’m very grateful to MDRS. Without y’all, this would be happening in Natchez Adams County School District.”  

Mayor Dan Gibson recalled seeing and spending time with the graduates at the Lighting of the Christmas Tree in Downtown Natchez last fall. Like the tree, once in darkness, the young graduates shine a light on Natchez, he said.  

“The spotlight is on you,” Gibson said. “When we talk about Project Search … sometimes that search takes place in the darkest night. It requires that spotlight to actually bring light to that darkness. Project Search is bringing light into our community, and through Project Search, we are finding and discovering such great talent in our midst.”

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