HETS hosted the 12th edition of the Student Leadership Showcase 2025 (SLS) at The Summ: Student Experience Summit, on Wednesday, August 27, at the Puerto Rico Convention Center. This hybrid with simultaneous translation event brought together more than 500 students, educators, and administrators from HETS member institutions in Puerto Rico, the U.S., and Latin America. The event started showcasing HETS online services and resources, and recognizing the Student Ambassadors selected for this academic year 2025-2026.
The showcase featured a panel discussion on Artificial Intelligence in Action, to drive student leadership and success, led by Dr. José Ferrer, Professor at the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus. The panelists included Attorney Karla G. Mercado Rivera, Director of the General Services Administration (GSA), and Mildred Ramírez, CEO and Founder, Clickealo. This panel provided students with invaluable insights into how artificial intelligence is changing the job market and the skills needed to succeed in today’s competitive landscape.
Likewise, two students shared innovative projects. The first one was Andrés Rivera from Colegio Universitario de San Juan. The second one, Ignacio Reinosa from the Río Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico, shared his innovative project as a scholar student of the American Heart Association. Also, students benefited from the alliance with The Summ by participating in interactive and immersive experiences that simulate real work environments and have access to pavilions and exhibitors from higher education institutions.
After the presentations, participants had the opportunity to make questions and entered a raffle to win a 2-night, 3-day stays, as well as gift certificates for shopping or dining at various restaurants, among other prizes, thanks to the generous support of Camera Mundi; Aloft Hotel; the Condado Plaza Hotel; The Hilton Garden Inn Hotel; Plaza Las Américas; Chili’s, Macaroni & Grill; P.F. Chang’s; Caribbean Cinemas; Goya Mayonesa: Poskón; and Café Yaucono.
In addition, HETS corporate partners support the event: American Heart Association, main sponsor and presenter of the event; Anthology; COBIMET; Educational Testing Services; Miami EdTech; inQmatic; Teach Access; Territorium; Online Learning Consortium; and Symplicity. Their commitment to education and leadership development is instrumental in providing these valuable opportunities for students.
Besides the sponsors prizes, HETS recognized with a prize of $300 the member institution who organized their students and attended with the most participants. The prize was awarded to EDP University students with more than 100 students attending in person.
To conclude the SLS 2025 agenda, a panel of Presidents and representatives of recognized universities and colleges in Puerto Rico shared their perspective about the future of Higher Education and how their institutions are innovating to help students succeed.
Relive the excitement and inspiration from HETS Student Leadership Showcase 2025, see the recording and the photo gallery highlighting the event’s best moments here: HETS Student Leadership Showcase – IA en Acción: Impulsando Liderazgo y Éxito Estudiantil.
For more information about HETS resources and upcoming events, please visit Next & Past events or contact us, and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
