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Pensacola State College is proud to celebrate a new partnership with American Magic, the elite yacht racing team competing in the prestigious America’s Cup – and the magical opportunity it created for one exceptional PSC student.
Braydon Sult, who will graduate in May with an Associate of Science degree in Mechanical Design & Fabrication, has accepted a full-time position with the American Magic team after impressing leadership during his six-week internship. His technical skill set, positive attitude and eagerness to learn earned him high praise – and a place on the internationally renowned racing team.
“I never really thought I would be able to be a part of something so cool – especially right out of the gate,” said Sult. “It’s still kind of fully sinking in. It’s a great opportunity to work with people who are the best at what they do; I’ve already learned so much,” said Sult.
Tyson Lamond, Chief Operating Officer of American Magic, said Sult was the perfect match for the team’s culture and technical needs.
“Braydon has been a perfect fit for us,” Lamond said. “Not only does he have all the skills and training from PSC that we need, but he also has an amazing attitude and fits in well with our team culture. That can be a tough ask, especially in a large and evolving organization like ours.”
The collaboration began in 2023 when Lamond and PSC President Ed Meadows met to discuss the future of American Magic’s future in Pensacola. With long-term goals to build, grow and anchor the team’s footprint in Pensacola, American Magic sought to invest in the local community and develop a skilled workforce to support its high-performance racing and manufacturing efforts.
The vision aligned perfectly with PSC’s mission.
Lamond and Michael Listau, Dean of Workforce Education, reviewed the College’s programs and crafted a tailored internship model to meet American Magic’s immediate needs. Lamond then met with students in the Mechanical Design and Fabrication program to introduce the opportunity.
“The purpose of establishing partnerships like this is to give our students the real-world training that leads to real-world jobs,” Listau said. “American Magic is growing right here in Pensacola, and there will be plenty of opportunities for our graduates to do meaningful work. We don’t promise jobs – but we do promise to give students the tools and pathways to earn employment opportunities.”
For Sult, it’s already paid off – and the College anticipates more reasons to showcase its workforce resources for the community and to celebrate success stories like Braydon’s.
“Braydon’s is definitely a success story, and we want this kind of story to be a possibility for even more people,” said Listau. “The point of an internship, the ‘light at the end of the tunnel,’ so to speak, is to help our students obtain jobs.”
With a career now launched on the cutting edge of yacht design and high-performance engineering, Sult is proof that when education and opportunity meet, Magic really can happen.