Project SEARCH intern has big impact on med center

Earlier this month, co-workers and members of the UNMC/Nebraska Medicine Project SEARCH program came together to celebrate Mike Lentz, one of the earliest and most successful graduates of the program.

Job trainers from Project Search, joined by co-workers, former classmates, and current Project SEARCH interns, gathered to show support for Lentz, who has been battling cancer for months and is currently receiving hospice care.

Project SEARCH is a one-year, total workplace immersion vocational training program that helps individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities learn the necessary job skills to become competitively employed.

“It was amazing to see the love expressed by Sodexo, especially his co-workers,” said Tara Harper, MMI transition and employment services program manager. “We have an amazing program here. Mike spreads so much positive energy to everyone he interacts with.”

“Positive” is a word many people use about Lentz, including Chris Miller, the Project Search instructor with program partner Madonna School.

“Two things everyone notices about Mike is his extremely positive attitude and his extreme work ethic,” Miller said. “He always puts forth his best effort — he’s one of those people who makes an impact on everyone because of who he is and how he works.”

Tom Hoffman, senior general manager of food nutrition at Sodexo, hired Lentz after his Project SEARCH rotation ended. He had noticed Lentz during the internship because of his energy and attitude.

“With Mike, what you see is what you get,” Hoffman said. “He never shied away from a heavy work day — in fact, the busier it got, the better he was.”

And his Sodexo teammates enjoyed working with Mike, Hoffman said.

“He just brought something special to the room when he walked in,” he said.

The Project SEARCH team decided to pay tribute to Lentz’s hard work ethic, positive attitude and team persona by presenting him with an award. This award will be given to a Project SEARCH graduate every year who demonstrates the same qualities as Lentz.

Barb Armour, Lentz’s cousin and guardian, agreed that he is always really positive — even in the face of his health battles — and that he had enjoyed meeting so many people as part of the Project SEARCH program.

“He had opportunities to do different projects throughout the program before he got hired in the kitchen,” she said. “He’s a very hard worker, and the Project SEARCH team has been behind him.”

For now, being behind Lentz means supporting him during hospice care, and the instructors, supervisors, co-workers and classmates who Lentz has impacted with his friendliness and energy are there to provide that support.

“He told us that we are all his family, and he loves everyone,” Miller said. “We feel the same way.”