More than an Internship Project SEARCH student gains real-world experience in UK Custodial Services

In a quiet conference room on the second floor of the Healthy Kentucky Research Building at the University of Kentucky, Pushpa Pokharel, a Henry Clay High School senior and Project SEARCH intern, works diligently to clean every surface. She employs an impressive degree of detail, going beyond mere tidying to ensure surfaces are spotless and hygienic.  

“On our first day together, we began in conference rooms. I told Pushpa to start cleaning the tables,” said Alla Budnik, custodial superintendent for areas 5 & 6. “I looked over after a few moments, and Pushpa was cleaning the chairs and went above and beyond. She already knew all the little details that it takes to be a custodian.” 

Pokharel is one of 10 Project SEARCH interns from Fayette County Public Schools this year, belonging to the third cohort of the program’s involvement at the university. This nine-month, transition-to-work program for high school students with developmental and intellectual disabilities focuses on immersive job training to help interns develop job-ready skills. 

“It provides students with a rotation of three internship opportunities in UK HealthCare and on campus to gain meaningful skills to prepare for future employment,” said Holly McCombs, Project SEARCH program instructor for Fayette County Public Schools. “A campus is so big, and there are so many opportunities for future employment, and UK Facilities Management gives them another pathway to have that.” 

Pokharel is currently in her third rotation of her internship at UK working in Custodial Services. She began her journey with the program at the Office of Patient Experience with UK HealthCare. 

“Ms. Whitney, that I met at the front desk, was nice and helpful to me,” Pokharel said. “At my first rotation, I interacted with a lot of people. I feel like I got to help a lot of people.”  

After her first position, Pokharel moved into UK HealthCare's Environmental Services Department (EVS). While there, she learned about cleaning products and their correct use. She is now building on that knowledge as a custodian for UK Facilities Management. 

“Pushpa is a great example of how this program gets her job ready through interacting with several types of jobs,” said Cassidy Wilson, a skills trainer working with Project SEARCH through Fink Supported Living Services. “She started by gaining people skills at the front desk, she learned cleaning skills at EVS and then applied that knowledge with her work with Alla.” 

On weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon, Pokharel shadows Budnik and learns about various cleaning duties for several different building features, sometimes even getting behind the scenes to learn about supervisor duties.  

“She is always smiling and making jokes,” Budnik said. “She makes work fun, has a good spirit and is always positive. She really is learning how to communicate and work with other people to get the job done well and at her own pace.” 

Pokharel especially enjoys cleaning; it has been her favorite part of the rotations thus far.  

“My favorite was cleaning the restrooms and sinks,” Pokharel said. “I have learned a lot about different cleaning products and sprays.” 

“Usually, every day is different. One day we could be cleaning glass doors and entrances and the next day we could be working on time consuming jobs like dusting the pedway,” Budnik said. “She once asked me to clean a classroom and so we found one and worked on what it takes to keep classrooms clean.” 

Pokharel has become familiar with Budnik’s team of nine employees.  

“Pushpa learned extremely quickly where my office is and will enter it in the morning and be ready to go,” Budnik said. “A lot of people across the area know her by name and will stop and say hi. Pushpa knows so many people. She is extremely independent.” 

Budnik’s effort at integrating Pushpa into the team has been a priority, and one that has not gone unnoticed by others involved in the program. 

“The supervisors and mentors within the department have been so incredible, really finding the strengths in our interns' abilities and helping them feel like a valuable part of the team,” McCombs said. “Pushpa has made so much improvement in her work skills, her confidence and her belief in her ability. She has become more focused on her future and sees how this program has prepared her.” 

For Pokharel, that growth has transformed into a sense of belonging on the job.  

“I feel part of the team,” Pokharel said. “I like all the walking.” 

That sense of inclusion is central to the mission of Project SEARCH. 

“Project SEARCH gives students the opportunity to show what they can do instead of feeling like they are set apart,” Wilson said. “It is so important to not just develop these skills but to show everyone and themselves that they are capable and confident. It also shows to businesses that they can be the employee that they are looking for.” 

Upon graduation, Pokharel hopes to work at Meijer or Kroger and to use the valuable skills she has developed through the program.  

“I am going to find a job, I have been getting many emails,” Pokharel said. “I want to clean and I enjoy it. It will help me at my next job.”