American Magic's world class racing boats are training on Pensacola Bay, and their new headquarters is near completion.

Adding local employees is a priority, and the internationally respected organization turned to Pensacola State College.

President Ed Meadows talked to Meadows.

Is exactly what I say.

Pensacola is.

When we walk into a room and we present a problem, they always give us an answer.

And he was arms wide open.

The next step was working out the details of an internship program.

It became pretty apparent that we didn't have to reinvent something in order to satisfy their needs.

We already had programs at the college that existed that could support training the workers that they needed.

American magic is on the cutting edge of new technology, new material, and that's going to be phenomenal experience for our students, creating a pathway that students can be excited to come from Pensacola State out to American Magic.

Learn about what we're doing out here, what we're creating, you know, in the community, and then being able to see, okay, wow, there is another industry that I can be involved in in Pensacola, American Magic committed to bringing in two interns a month and held a career night at PSC to tell students about the opportunity.

And when they came and gave the talk and kind of saw it was all about, I was like, wow, this is this is really awesome.

Brayden soul had been working as a bartender and enrolled at Pensacola State seven years after graduating high school.

Wanting a better career path, he was intrigued by his mechanical design and fabrication program.

I always was really interested in like designing, making things.

I like to be challenged.

I wanted to see if I could learn more about that and really see where it would take me.

He's the type of student that comes to class, open minded, pays attention to details, and just makes it happen.

Braden's personality is something I can't teach his go get it attitude, and he had that naturally.

I was constantly harassing them about like, how do I do this?

Can I do that?

And, you know, they're always working with me and helping me to push push myself a little further.

In March, Braden was chosen to be American Magic's first PSC intern.

Bright and straight away, he clicked.

Obviously smart on their work side of it, but socially, he's also really good.

And I always say we can teach the talents here, but the personality and, you know, really the want to do something in the can do attitude comes from within and right has been fantastic.

Everyone kind of open their arms, took me in and made me feel like I was part of the team, which is really awesome.

You know, it's a sports team.

It's it's kind of awesome to be a part of that.

Braden learned advanced manufacturing, working with carbon fiber to craft parts for ships and aerospace composites.

After the six week internship was over, he was offered a full time job.

It's kind of dumbstruck.

I didn't really settle in right away.

I was just like, yeah, and I wasn't even really thinking about it.

I got in my car to go home and I called my fiance and I was like, hey, I got the job.

And then she was like, oh my gosh.

And I was like, then it started to fully settle and I was like, wow, actually, I'm going to be a part of this team.

It's been challenging, but in the best way possible.

I think I've learned a lot.

Taking the leap to Pensacola State had set him up to succeed in the program at PSC.

Really prepares you to, go into any like, machining environment and kind of be ready to roll.

We wanted to make sure that we were doing it right, and that is a definite success story that will help grow, recruit, and really encourage others to just take the opportunity.

If we can get into a position that by the end of next year, we had ten full time staff members that have all come through training at Pensacola State.

I would say that's a success.

I see the Pensacola State Partnership is a very vital point in American magic growing in Pensacola, even towards the end of the program.

Before they announced this internship, I didn't even think of this as a possibility.

So it's crazy where something can take you and you really put in your best effort and and a little bit of luck to.