Fall at Stetson is classically lively, with a variety of events to welcome students back to campus. Behind the excitement of the fall semester are student leaders who spend the summer and orientation periods working with their organizations to create campus events and prepare their teams for the new school year.
Victoria Ramón ’24 is the student director of Stetson Votes*, the nonpartisan voter education, registration, and turnout organization on campus. “I was always passionate about making sure people knew how to use their rights,” Ramón said.
As the student director, Ramón is in charge of creating Stetson’s voting action plan and coordinating staff within her organization. “I have the visions, and my team makes it happen,” Ramón said proudly. “We want to register 90% of all Stetson students. And then out of that 90%, we want 90% to turnout.” A 90% turnout for the 2024 election would be a 12% jump from the previous election, something Ramón is confident her team can accomplish.
The fall semester is a crucial time for Stetson Votes, as the organization puts on a massive registration drive during FOCUS (Friends on Campus Uniting Students) Orientation. FOCUS is a five day student-led orientation period for incoming students. At FOCUS Orientation Stetson Votes will distribute prepopulated voter registration forms that only require students’ social security or driver’s license numbers and a signature.
Ramón is also excited to share one of her most recent projects: the student ID initiative. “This year, we’re trying to make it so that our student IDs are voter friendly. And the addition is, we’re now doing a signature on them.” Students can show their signed Stetson ID when voting, in lieu of a state-issued ID or driver’s license.
As a queer and Hispanic individual, Ramón is also passionate about being the leader she needs on campus. “I didn’t always have that representation in student leadership,” Ramón said. “I wanted to be that student for others, to show others that they could.”
Student leadership at Stetson takes many forms. Jayriliz (Jay) Leguillu’s ’26 work on campus involves movement in a literal sense. Whether she is on the court making calls or posing with an championship t-shirt on her organization’s social media,* Leguillu’s enthusiastic personality is well known throughout the athletic community. She has found a way to merge her love for sports with her working life, as a referee and supervisor for the Intramural Sports organization at Stetson.
Leguillu was voted Female Athlete of the Year in 2024, an award voted on by the intramural sports community, recognizing sportsmanship and athletic involvement. “I was awarded because I played almost every single sport and won three championships,” Leguillu said with a smile. During the 2024-2025 academic year Leguillu won a co-ed football championship, soccer championship and a futsal championship on various teams.
The Intramural Sports organization hosts various sports seasons that end with a championship tournament. They offer flag football, remote control racing, arrow tag, softball, spikeball, futsal, volleyball, disc-golf, basketball and soccer at various times throughout the year. Students can participate in Intramural Sports seasons as an individual or with a team. There are team sign up forms and individual interest forms on the Intramural Sports website.
The first intramural sporting season of the year will be spikeball. Before each season, the intramural staff has several meetings to learn and practice the sports they will be hosting. “We go over the rules, then we also play scenarios that could happen [ in the game ] so that we are prepared for the unexpected.” Her team’s goal is to ensure that the referee staff feels confident in their knowledge of each sport and able to make their calls independently. As a supervisor, Leguillu will continue to referee games, but she picks up the extra responsibilities of ensuring her staff, athletes, and spectators are showing quality sportsmanship and following the rules of the events.
Leguillu contributes her communication and service skills to her role as a student leader. This has helped her build connections on campus. “It overall rounds me into a better person and a person I want for the future,” Leguillu said. “You bond and connect with faculty and they know you on a deeper level than just as a student.”
Victoria and Jay are two of many student leaders who build the Stetson atmosphere. As leaders, students mold their college career and campus to represent their passions. Becoming involved is extremely accessible, especially during the fall semester. Campus events and involvement fairs will help students become familiar with what is available at Stetson and where they might be impactful as a student leader. Students can keep up with campus events through Engage.“Go to all of the events you can,” Leguillu said. “Don’t say no just because you don’t know who will be there.” There is a place for everyone.
