The University Recognized Internship (URI) program launched this August—and it’s already making waves across campus! Students are actively registering their internships, reflecting on their experiences, and showcasing the skills they’ve gained through high-impact learning outside the classroom.
Whether paid or unpaid, for-credit or not, internships are powerful learning opportunities—and now UF students have a way to make them count. Through the URI process, students submit documentation, complete a reflection, and share artifacts that highlight their growth. These experiences will be officially recognized on the Gator Experience Record, launching in late Fall 2025.
✨ Why URI Matters:
- Gives students official UF recognition for non-credit internships
- Helps students articulate transferable skills for jobs, grad school, and interviews
- Encourages reflection on career goals and professional development
- Validates meaningful, career-relevant work beyond the classroom
Take Kalyna Dugar, an Economics major pursuing a dual degree in Finance, who completed an internship with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. She shared her incredible summer experience working on a cruise line—an opportunity she was able to reflect on and officially highlight through University Recognized Internship (URI). Look at her interview and pictures below!
Interview:
1. What’s your major and year at UF, and how did you locate this internship opportunity?
My name is Kalyna Dugar, and I am an Economics major pursuing a dual degree in Finance. I secured my internship with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings during the Fall 2024 Career Fair. It was an incredible opportunity to connect with company representatives and learn more about their mission to provide cruisers with an unforgettable vacation experience.
2. Where did you intern, and what were your day-to-day responsibilities?
During the summer of 2025, I interned with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. My responsibilities included completing a capstone project focused on evaluating pricing strategies and destination-based revenue trends, as well as daily tasks such as processing general ledger (GL) invoices to ensure timely payments and accurate departmental expense allocation within financial systems. I also strengthened my technical skills by working with advanced Excel functions, Tableau, and financial modeling to support budgeting, forecasting, and data-driven decision-making.
3. What new skills did you gain from this experience?
I developed stronger technical skills in Excel, Tableau, and financial modeling. Beyond that, I learned the importance of professional conduct in areas such as workplace attire, interviews, and networking on platforms like LinkedIn. My capstone project challenged me to analyze large data sets and make recommendations without internal company context, which taught me resilience and adaptability when initial approaches didn’t work out as planned.
4. What personal strengths did you bring to the role?
I brought persistence and curiosity to the role, always asking thoughtful questions to help move projects forward. My eagerness to learn was welcomed and allowed me to contribute meaningfully while continuing to grow.
5. Why was this a meaningful experiential learning experience for you?
This experience was meaningful because I was able to form genuine connections with both peers and experienced professionals. It gave me insight into the aspects of finance that I truly enjoy, and some that I don’t, which is helping me clarify my career goals. Most importantly, I gained the tools to evaluate companies more critically and assess where I see myself thriving in the future.
