Savannah River Mission Completion (SRMC) donated $20,000 to the University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA) Pacer LIFE Program and will host a student worker on Jan. 25, 2024.
Pacer LIFE is a two-year program implemented to serve students with intellectual disabilities. SRMC President and Program Manager Dave Olson said that hosting a student for a semester is a way for them to maintain their commitment to both education outreach and workforce development.
“Savannah River Mission Completion has an opportunity to make a difference in a student’s life that otherwise might not have a chance to obtain work experience that provides skills and access for gainful employment,” Olson said. “Pacer LIFE is an excellent program for students with disabilities that have the capacity to learn, and SRMC wants to offer them a chance at a better quality of life.”
According to USC Aiken Pacer Life Executive Director Dr. Melissa Martin, the research shows that life after high school is bleak for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
“Only 18% of adults with ID are competitively employed, and their average yearly income is below the poverty line at $10,279,” Martin said. “Thanks to partners like SRMC that help offset the cost of this program, students with ID can go to college, live independently, and maintain meaningful employment.”
