Erlanger honors Hamilton County student interns

Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp speaking with Adrian Senentz, an intern with Project SEARCH working inside the Erlanger gift shop.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- A group of interns at Erlanger were honored this morning by Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp.

The group of interns work through the Project SEARCH and SWITCH 2 Adulting programs.

They select Hamilton County high school students with developmental disabilities to connect them with local employers.

Leaders say the program is an example of an innovative concept that opens opportunities to those of all backgrounds.

Mayor Wamp said, “One of the things that a community that has relied on private education that this community has, one of the things that is lost, is that there is a lot of students who have needs that private schools that can not, and will not, and do not serve, and this program is a beautiful example of that.”

The program began last year, and Erlanger says they already have four former interns on staff.