Stemilt honored for Project SEARCH partnership

Wenatchee, Wash.-based Stemilt has been honored with the Community Leadership Award from the Washington Association of School Administrators for its partnership with Eastmont High School through Project SEARCH, a transition to work program that provides education and training to young people with disabilities.

“We are extremely humbled to receive this Community Leadership Award and are grateful for the opportunity to serve the youth of our community,” Zach Williams, Stemilt director of human resources, said in a news release.

From August 2022 to June 2023, Stemilt hosted the first Project SEARCH program in central Washington state and in the tree fruit industry. The program helps individuals gain real-life work experiences combined with training employability and independent living to help them successfully transition to productive adult life, according to the release.

“The entire Stemilt company was all in and supportive of the Project SEARCH interns and we could not be prouder of their success,” Williams said.

The award is presented to those who have made an outstanding contribution to education, such as benefit to students, leadership, motivation, success, cooperation and coordination with a local district, recognition by others and history of service, according to the release.

“We would like to thank WASA for the honor and recognition of this award,” Williams said. “This highlights our Stemilters’ great spirit of community and our mission to cultivate people for growth, learning, and collaboration.”