COEUR d'ALENE - Project SEARCH graduate Keyoba Carter was sincere as he summarized what he learned during his time as an intern.

"Project SEARCH has taught me better eye contact, to pay attention to directions, customer service skills, better posture, to have confidence in myself, to be more independent, and finally, my disability is not just an obstacle. It is a gift that I should cherish," he said.

He looked across the crowd and addressed the incoming interns.

"And that goes the same to all of you who are coming to Project SEARCH this year. Your disability is a gift you should cherish. Remember that."

Carter's heartfelt words came at the end of his presentation Wednesday afternoon during the End of Year Celebration Program at Kootenai Health. Carter and his six colleagues completed a school year's worth of real-world work training in various internship positions. An entire roomful of teachers, mentors and loved ones helped celebrate their accomplishments.

"We're just super excited," said job coach Ami Geren. "The students this year have just absolutely blossomed and matured beyond anything I could have ever imagined. It's just been absolutely amazing to know them and to work with them."

Project SEARCH is a high school transition program for 18- to 21-year-olds who have disabilities and qualify for special education services. The class of 2015 was the fifth to graduate since the inception of the program in 2010. It has now graduated 35 students.

Those who participate in Project SEARCH go through three rotations of internships, conducting tasks and completing jobs for different departments of Kootenai Health and at places such as Creekside Inn Memory Care Community or Lake City Community Church. This year's graduates shared their experiences through PowerPoint presentations, complete with photos of their work and descriptions of their jobs as well as explanations of the skills they learned. The intern job requirements ranged from laundry and janitorial duties to helping with seniors and caring for children.

Victoria Stebbins told the room some exciting news during her presentation. She is the first graduate ever to find a job before even finishing the program.

"Thank you, Lake City Ford, I got the job," she said, smiling as she wiggled a finger into the air. She was proud to say she'll be working with the mobile car wash truck to keep vehicles sparkling and clean. She gave the advice for newcomers: "Try your hardest, push yourself and succeed at it."

Project SEARCH grad Shyla Campbell said she was feeling excited after she gave her presentation. She said the best part of the program was "the end, because I knew what I would be doing was working with kids."

The hardest part?

"Trying to break out of my high school shell," she said. "When you're in high school, you are kind of childish, so I was trying to break out of that. That was the hardest."

Jesse Christensen spent two of his rotations working in the Kootenai Health laboratory, where he was presented a "Good Catch" pin for finding an expired blood culture.

"It was really cool," he said, explaining that the lab wouldn't be able to use the blood, making his find a good catch.

"I feel really good, actually," Christensen said after the ceremony. "Try and do a really good job in your department and don't try and quit the program."

The celebration included recognition of program partners, coworkers, department leaders and those who helped make this year's Project SEARCH a success. The graduates were presented certificates as well as other accolades such as attendance awards, then they greeted the incoming interns who start this fall, with a handshake and a smile.

Project SEARCH instructor Theresa Moran said she couldn't believe the program's been around five years already.

"I am so blessed to be able to do this job," she said. "I call it my 'dream job,' I am just so fortunate to be able to do this and to just see the class that's graduating, to see them mature and blossom in a one-year time period, and then start flying away with jobs and driver's licenses, and thoughts of moving out of their parents' houses, I mean, all of that is just such big successes for them."