FP&M staff named Project SEARCH Advocates of the Year

6 people pictured in the back. 3 people in the front. All receiving an award. — Pictured from left to right in the back row are FP&M employees: Shaddai Solidum, Rafael Aparicio, Caryn Walline, Gabe Mendez, Hope Johnson, Daniel Drew. In the front row from left to right, are student interns John Rai and Preston Brown alongside Milu Canicoba. Photo provided by Milu Canicoba.

Members of FP&M’s Transportation Services and Human Resources teams were selected as the Madison Metro School District Project SEARCH Advocates of the Year. The award recognized Rafael Aparicio, Milu Canicoba, Dan Drew, Hope Johnson, Gabe Mendez, and Shaddai Solidum, for their exceptional mentorship, flexibility and dedication to supporting interns John Rai and Preston Brown at the program’s completion ceremony on Aug. 6.

Award recipients gather at the program’s completion ceremony. Photo courtesy of Milu Canicoba.

Preston Brown receives his certificate of completion where he had job opportunities to work with VA Engineering and Transportation Services. Photo courtesy of Milu Canicoba.

Launched at FP&M in January 2025 in partnership with the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD), Project SEARCH is a year-long transition program for young adults ages 18–21 with disabilities. The program combines classroom instruction with hands-on, site-specific work experience to help participants develop marketable job skills as they transition from high school into the competitive workforce.

MMSD Project SEARCH Site Coordinator Jason Penticoff said that in less than two years, FP&M has already made a lasting impact on the program.

“They demonstrated that when people are given the opportunity and support, great things can happen,” Jason said.

John Rai receives his certificate of completion where he had experiences at the UW cafeteria, at the VA sterile processing and as a booth attendant. Photo courtesy of Milu Canicoba.

Milu, who has helped grow the Project SEARCH program within FP&M, said the Transportation team adjusted work schedules, created meaningful hands-on opportunities, worked side-by-side with interns, and continuously adapted tasks to foster success.

“This team has been an absolute pleasure to work with and has been a tremendous supporter of the program,” she said. “They provided exceptional mentorship and support.”

If you’re interested in having your FP&M unit partner with Project SEARCH, or have any questions about the program, you can contact Milu at cinthya.canicoba@wisc.edu.