Oct 10, 2016 08:58 PM EDT By Emily Marks, UniversityHerald Reporter

The University of West Florida's (UWF) business internship program has not only helped its students but the community as well. The college is fulfilling is mission on employment opportunities for its students.

The Pensacola News Journal reported that UWF has emphasized on internships as well as other job opportunities since 2013. Moreover, the school has already seen results on its efforts after being able to place 64 students in internships last summer.

One student, Tess Knight, is a supply chain logistics management major in the UWF College of Business. When she graduates this December, she already has a job secured with John Deere Co. after she accepted an offer last month to join the company's full-time development program for supply management in January.

The UWF business internship program includes two 18-month rotations in order fulfillment, product development and cost management, among others. Those who graduate from the program can then move to full-time company positions such as supply management specialists or logistics analysts.

College officials expect more improvements on the school's internship program as they continue to build a path for students to go from academics to careers seamlessly. ""It's really important," Knight said. "If you want to work for these bigger companies, you need an internship."

The school is helping the community, too. According to Tim O'Keefe, dean of the College of Business, part of deepening the focus on internships includes continuing to establish relationships with companies especially those in the region. "Part of our mission is to work with the local business community to do what we can to foster the region's economic environment," he said.

Internships, as previously reported, allow college students to gain real-life experience. It is one of the things that graduates can do to succeed in the modern workplace as well as give them a chance to get their foot in the door of their dream company.

SpaceX also has an internship/co-op program. Interns will get the chance to be involved in the design, development, testing and manufacturing of spaceflight hardware.

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