Saint Leo University graduates celebrating May 5-7 at nursing pinning, ROTC commissioning, and doctoral hooding ceremonies, Baccalaureate Mass, reception, and graduation
It’s almost time to cross the stage and turn the tassels for more than 1,400 Saint Leo University students. Two commencement ceremonies will take Wednesday, May 7, at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. 301 N., Tampa, FL 33610.
There will be 839 undergraduates (bachelor’s and associate degrees) participating and 581 master’s and doctoral degree recipients crossing the stage.
The graduates studied at Saint Leo’s campus in Pasco County, north of Tampa; at its education centers in Tampa, Key West, and Savannah (GA); at its Center for Adult Learning at University Campus and in Pasco and Hernando counties; at MacDill Air Force Base (Tampa); and domestically and internationally online. More than 40 students from the World Campus program will travel to the United States to attend the afternoon ceremony.
Some ‘Firsts’
The 2025 commencement also will celebrate some “firsts” with the first graduates of Saint Leo’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program earning their degrees. Twelve students will graduate from the program, which is in the College of Health Professions.
Prior to commencement, the seniors will take part in a pinning ceremony at 10 a.m., Monday, May 5, in the Greenfelder-Denlinger Boardrooms at the Student Community Center, 33701 County Road 52, St. Leo, FL. They will receive a pin representing their graduation from Saint Leo University’s nursing program.
Another student achieving a “first” is Forgive Semackor of Riverview, FL, who graduated from Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School in Tampa, will be the first graduate in Saint Leo’s Bachelor of Arts in Music Program in 30 years. In Fall Semester 2023, Saint Leo began offering a music major, building on the success of the minor in music and based on prospective students’ interest in pursuing a music degree.
Tuesday Celebrations
Several events will take place on Tuesday, May 6, at University Campus, to recognize and celebrate the graduates as well as pray for them and ask for God’s blessing upon them. The events include:
ROTC commissioning ceremony: 10 a.m., May 6, in the Marion Bowman Activities Center, at which times six U.S. Army ROTC students from the Suncoast Battalion will be commissioned as second lieutenants in the Army.
Doctoral hooding: More than 80 students will receive their ceremonial hoods for their graduation gowns in the colors designating their doctoral degree programs in business administration, criminal justice, and education during a hooding ceremony at 2 p.m., Tuesday, May 6, in the Marion Bowman Activities Center.
Baccalaureate Mass: The traditional Mass will be at 5 p.m., Tuesday, May 6, in the Saint Leo Abbey Church. Abbot Isaac Camacho, Class of 1995, of the Benedictine Monks of Saint Leo Abbey, will celebrate the Mass. For those unable to attend Baccalaureate Mass in person, it will be livestreamed via Facebook Live at https://www.facebook.com/SaintLeoAbbey.
Roaring with Pride: Saint Leo Lions Graduation Reception: The Class of 2025 and their families, friends, and the community will celebrate 6-7:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 6, at the Student Community Center.
Wednesday Morning Commencement Ceremony
Saint Leo University’s commencement exercises begin at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 7, at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall in Tampa.
Graduating during this ceremony will be:
● University Campus undergraduate students — associate and bachelor’s degrees;
● Master's degree students — accounting, business administration, computer science, cybersecurity, and psychology; and,
● Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) students.
Faculty marshal for the ceremony will be Dr. Michael Tkacik, associate professor of theology. For both ceremonies, Board of Trustees Chair Edwin Narain will welcome everyone and Student Government Union President Tamar Olguin Alzate, Class of 2026, will address the graduates.
Morning Guest Speaker
Giving the commencement address at the morning ceremony will be Dr. Lauren Wittenberg Weiner, founder and former CEO of WWC Global, an organization dedicated to helping military spouses find career opportunities. In 2018, WWC Global won the largest contract to a woman-owned business in U.S. Special Operations Command headquarters (Tampa, FL) history — the headquarters for the U.S. Navy SEALs and U.S. Army Green Berets. Annual revenue for WWC reached $100 million before Wittenberg Weiner sold it in 2022.
Valedictorian and Salutatorian
At the morning ceremony, the valedictorian and salutatorian for University Campus will be recognized. Earning the title of valedictorian for the Class of 2025 with a 4.0 GPA with the highest number of credits completed is Kristina Arwady, of Altamonte Springs, FL, who graduated from Lake Brantley High School. She is a double major, earning bachelor’s degrees in management and medical humanities with a minor in Spanish, and she also is graduating from the Honors Program. Arwady also was a member of the women’s soccer team
The University Campus salutatorian for 2025, who is the second highest academically ranked student with the second highest number of credits taken at Saint Leo University, is Jacqueline Pollok of Dade City, FL, who graduated from Cypress Creek High School in Wesley Chapel, FL. She also is a double major, earning degrees in criminal justice and international studies with a minor in world politics. Pollock also is the recipient of this year’s Clara McDonald Olson Scholarship Excellence Award.
Wednesday Afternoon Commencement Ceremony
Saint Leo University’s commencement exercises begin at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 7, also at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall in Tampa.
Graduating during this ceremony will be:
● Center for Online Learning and education center undergraduate students — associate and bachelor’s degrees;
● World Campus students (studying internationally) — associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees;
● Master’s degree students — creative writing, criminal justice, education, education specialist, instructional design, social work, and theology; and,
● Doctoral students — criminal justice and education.
Faculty marshal for the ceremony will be Dr. Monika Kiss, professor of mathematics.
Afternoon Guest Speaker
Giving the commencement address for the afternoon ceremony will be retired Major General James S. Hartsell, who is the executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Hartsell, who earned the nickname “Hammer,” leads the 1,500-member department responsible for serving the nation’s third largest veteran population. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps with honor for 37 years of active and reserve duty, beginning as an enlisted Marine in 1981 and completing distinguished and highly decorated military career as a major general.
A native of Florida, Hartsell’s 22-year civilian career in the health care industry included serving in marketing, product management, U.S. and global business development, hospital administration and health care leadership. Upon retirement from the Marine Corps, he moved back to Florida and joined the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, where he launched the Future Operations Division.
His late son, Evin Hartsell, graduated from Saint Leo in 2015 with a degree in psychology.
Top Performers
Being recognized among students from Saint Leo’s Center for Online Learning, are top performers, graduating with a 4.0 cumulative GPA and a minimum of at least 60 credit hours: Frances Wesby from Grovetown, GA, graduating with a bachelor’s in business administration, and Kamera Woodruff from Madison, FL, graduating with a bachelor’s in elementary education.
The top performer for Saint Leo’s graduating seniors from its education centers, with a 4.0 cumulative GPA and a minimum of at least 60 credit hours, is Leslie Willis from Brooksville, FL, who is earning a bachelor’s in elementary education.
Livestream Available
Friends and family who are not able to attend the ceremony in person may watch via livestreaming video. A link will be posted on the day of the ceremony at www.saintleo.edu to access the livestream.
Important Information
Graduates and guests may arrive one hour prior to the start of each commencement ceremony and should be seated within 15 minutes of the ceremony start time. Graduates must check in to the Entertainment Hall upon arrival.
Everyone is encouraged to arrive early and plan accordingly for traffic since the ceremonies will take place on a weekday, and commuter traffic will be heavy. All students and families must use the U.S. 301 entrance/exit to the Florida State Fairgrounds.
The ceremonies will last 2.5 to 3 hours.
Details and etiquette may be found at https://www.saintleo.edu/academics/academic-affairs/florida-commencement.
