Associated Press

Eight South Dakota college students will work, learn and get paid for it this summer, thanks to a pilot program established last year by Gov. Mike Rounds.

The students also will get college credit.

Under the Washington internship program, they’ll be paid about $5,475 each while gaining work experience in areas of personal interest in the nation’s capital.

Students chosen for the program have agreed to return to South Dakota for at least one semester of college credit or one year of employment after their internships.

The internships are arranged by the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars.

The students were nominated by their college or university, which agreed to award academic credit for the internship experience.