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Leilani Ramos won first place in the Medical Terminology event at the SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference in Jacksonville and placed seventh at the national conference in Atlanta. She was also a top 10 finalist in two events and received an award for volunteerism and community service at the Health Occupations Students of America International Leadership Conference in Indianapolis.
Leilani Ramos represented PSC in both the SkillsUSA and HOSA national competitions
Leilani Ramos graduated from Pensacola State College in May; however, her studies continued into summer as she prepared to represent PSC in national competitions at two separate conferences in June.
Ramos was the sole PSC student to earn a spot at the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, held June 1–6 in Atlanta, where she placed seventh out of 17 students in the Medical Terminology event. She previously won Medical Terminology events at the SkillsUSA Florida Championships, held March 30–April 3 in Jacksonville, and in regional competition.
She was also one of six PSC students to compete nationally at the Health Occupations Students of America International Leadership Conference, held June 17–21 in Indianapolis, where she was a top 10 finalist in both the HOSA History Exam and Healthcare Issues Exam, while also earning the bronze-level Barbara James Service Award for health-focused community service.
She says that preparing for the SkillsUSA Medical Terminology competition, using resources she found online and at the Warrington campus library, was well worth the effort because she will use that knowledge in her future studies and career.
A graduate of J.M. Tate High School, Ramos has earned her associate in arts degree from PSC and plans to continue her studies at the University of South Florida. Her goal is to graduate from veterinary school and become the first veterinarian in her family.
“What inspired me to be involved in veterinary medicine is that I have always been around animals and love learning about and working with them,” she said. As a veterinary surgeon, she will have the “two-handed” advantage of being ambidextrous. She is also bilingual, speaking Spanish and English fluently, which could remove language barriers for many future clients and improve their understanding of her pet care instructions.
SkillsUSA empowers students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members. The organization offers its premier competition for students like Ramos with technical and healthcare-related career goals.
“Participating in SkillsUSA has been an amazing experience where I was able to travel and network with so many people from all over the United States. I got to learn their backgrounds and future goals, and I got the opportunity to trade pins with people from different states at nationals,” said Ramos. “It offers so much more than just competing in an event. I truly recommend it.”
As the chapter advisor for both SkillsUSA Florida and HOSA, PSC Health Programs Outreach Coordinator Hillary Sandusky has accompanied students to their conferences and competitions.
“I am incredibly proud of Leilani, who competed well at the national competition in such a difficult category,” said Sandusky. “Attending the SkillsUSA national conference was a neat experience for both of us, with numerous leadership development workshops besides her competitive event and the opportunity for her to connect with potential future employers.”
Ramos named Sandusky among three staff members who had the greatest impact on her experience at PSC.
“Ms. Sandusky helped me build my confidence and advance throughout the different competitions,” she said. “Melissa Davis, our Phi Theta Kappa Beta Alpha Psi advisor, helped me develop and grow my leadership skills. The third person was Melissa Sears in my zoology lab class, which was my favorite class at PSC. Her lab class gave me insight into my future career.”
Besides participating in the college’s SkillsUSA and HOSA chapters, Ramos served as vice president of service in Phi Theta Kappa Beta Alpha Psi and joined the Biology Club, which offered volunteer and field trip opportunities. She also enjoyed student life by attending campus events, such as homecoming, Pirate Fest, and basketball and volleyball games.
“If I could give any advice to current and future Pensacola State College students, it is to get out of your comfort zone,” said Ramos. “When I first started college, I just wanted to focus on my studies. I didn’t want to join any clubs or organizations because I thought it would be a distraction and too much for my schedule. I’m so glad I didn’t follow that original plan, because I wouldn’t have had all the amazing opportunities and accomplishments that I achieved at PSC.”
“Take advantage of all of the resources that could help you in your career and join the clubs and organizations you are interested in,” she said. “Make your college experience at PSC fun and unforgettable.”