View Larger Image Applause, laughter, and heartfelt reflections filled the room May 7 as the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) honored seven graduates of its Project SEARCH program.
Applause, laughter, and heartfelt reflections filled the room May 7 as the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) honored seven graduates of its Project SEARCH program. Image by Evan Lewis

UAMS Project SEARCH Celebrates Growth, Opportunity at 2026 Graduation

By Ben Boulden

| Applause, laughter, and heartfelt reflections filled the room May 7 as the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) honored seven graduates of its Project SEARCH program.

Project SEARCH Arkansas ACCESS Initiative, in partnership with Arkansas Rehabilitative Services (ARS), is for young adults with developmental disabilities. Interns in the program work in various UAMS departments with the goal of gaining necessary skills to allow them to obtain competitive employment, confidence, and independence.

Chancellor C. Lowry Barnes, M.D., opened the ceremony by emphasizing both the personal and community impact of the program.

“It’s a celebration not only of accomplishment but of growth, determination, and what’s possible when opportunity meets support,” Barnes said. “We are here to honor seven remarkable graduates, the 13th class of UAMS Project SEARCH since we launched the program in 2013.”

The graduates are:

  • Ava Chipman
  • Miracle Jackson
  • Mason Harper
  • Beckett Myers
  • Sydney Jenkins
  • Johnathan Koch
  • Sydney Phillips

Barnes highlighted the collaboration behind the program, crediting partners such as ACCESS and ARS, along with mentors and staff who support interns daily.

“Programs like this don’t just succeed by chance. They succeed because people believe in potential and then show up to help make it real,” he said.

Rebecca Seljan, director of Project SEARCH Arkansas for ACCESS, told graduates their progress extends far beyond statistics.

“You didn’t just learn job skills — you built confidence and independence and friendships that stay with you, and that matters,” Seljan said. “Because having a job is so much more than a paycheck. It is about a purpose. It is about connection.”

Throughout the ceremony, all the speakers, including Dana Byrum, ARS deputy director of special programs, and Patrice Storey, underscored how the program transforms both the interns and the workplace. Interns contribute to daily operations while developing professional habits that prepare them for employment after graduation. Storey, Ph.D., is director of Student, Postgraduate, Faculty and Staff Engagement in the UAMS Academic Pathways and Workforce Partnerships.

Keynote speaker Marshall Neal, left, speaks as Chancellor Barnes, seated right, Rebecca Seljan, Dana Byrum and Patrice Storey.

Keynote speaker Marshall Neal, left, speaks as Chancellor Barnes, seated right, Rebecca Seljan, Dana Byrum and Patrice Storey.Image by Evan Lewis

“Before I found Project SEARCH, I went through two other companies that did not work out for me,” Neal said. “Those experiences were frustrating at times, and I wasn’t sure where I would end up. But looking back, I realize those challenges were part of my journey.”

Neal said the program gave him not only skills but also equipped him for long-term success.

“The lessons I learned there didn’t just give me a job; they helped me keep a job and grow in it,” he said.

He encouraged the 2026 class to embrace both confidence and uncertainty.

“If you’re nervous about what comes next, that’s normal,” Neal said. “Today is your day. Celebrate it. You’ve earned it.”

Graduates reflected on their internships across departments such as clinical services, nutrition services, mailrooms and administrative offices.

Beckett Myers described how the program reshaped his understanding of work and personal growth.

“Over time, I learned that Project SEARCH is more than just a job. It’s a place where we grow, build confidence, and prepare for our future,” Myers said.

He noted that daily routines, mock interviews, and teamwork helped build essential skills.

Myers also celebrated the transition into employment, announcing he accepted a position at the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock.

Other graduates echoed similar themes of gratitude and accomplishment, emphasizing how supportive mentors and real-world experiences helped them succeed.

Miracle Jackson shared how the program provided both opportunity and resilience.

“I am thankful for Project SEARCH because I have made a lot of friends in Project SEARCH, and I could not be more grateful to meet all of them,” Jackson said. “They have helped me through the hardest times in my life.”

Parents in attendance described the program as a turning point for their children’s independence and confidence.

Ken Myers, Beckett Myers’ father, said the experience validated what families already believed about their children’s potential.

“It means greater independence, the ability and the belief that at the end of the day, he can perform equally with anybody else in the world,” Myers said.

He acknowledged that uncertainty about the future is natural for any parent but said the program offers reassurance.

“This just further proves the belief that we’ve already had in him,” Myers said. “So, I’m looking forward to it.”

Families, friends and UAMS employees applaud the Project SEARCH graduates.

Families, friends and UAMS employees applaud the Project SEARCH graduates.Image by Evan Lewis