SAINT LEO UNIVERSITY

JUNE 2009

Writer Stephen Coonts addresses
Virginia graduates

Stephen Coonts, author of military adventure thrillers such as Flight of the Intruder, moved the 2009 graduates of SLU’s Virginia locations May 16 with a rousing commencement address on all that he sees to be proud of in America. Stephen, like many of the graduates, served in the military, as a Navy flier.

Here is some of what he had to say:

“America is a wondrous, magical place, and on days like this, we need to celebrate that fact. Regardless of our family background, regardless of the position in society that we were born to, each of us can dream of getting a higher education and qualifying ourselves for a better job, which will eventually mean more money and a higher living standard for ourselves and our families. And if we work hard enough, we can make our dream come true. You have taken the first big step, you got the degree; now it is up to you to put it to use, to use it to make your life and your family’s lives better.

“One reason that higher education can happen in America is that there are institutions like Saint Leo, colleges and universities that previous generations have built and given generously to fund, so these institutions will be here for this generation, and the next and the next. Colleges don’t just happen. Colleges are one of the things I like about America.”

For the complete text of Coonts’ speech, click here.

Photos courtesy of Photo Impressions.

Alumna Dawn Vargo ’04 serves as tassel turner for Lake City grads

An alumna from a loyal Saint Leo University family helped 70 new graduates from the Lake City Center at the May 15 commencement ceremony.

Dawn Vargo, a 2004 summa cum laude graduate of the center, served as tassel turner during the ceremony.  Dawn issued the formal instruction to the graduates that they were to move the tassels affixed to their mortarboards from right to left (over their hearts) to signify their new academic status. Every year an alumnus is chosen to fill this ceremonial role.  Dawn Vargo was chosen because of her record of academic excellence and her unique family story.

Dawn graduated five years ago with her Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education. Like many center students, Dawn was working full-time, married, parenting a pre-school child, and attending classes during the evening.

Since then, she has taught third grade for two years and fifth grade special education for three years. This year she was honored as the Teacher of the Year for Columbia City Elementary School.

Dawn comes from a family of high achievers. Her father, John Jewett III known as Jerry, and her brother John Jewett IV, also graduated from Saint Leo University. Dad Jerry and brother John completed criminology degrees in 1999 and both graduated with honors. Jerry currently works as a lieutenant at the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and John works as the Director of the Corrections Program at Lake City Community College. Dawn credits her dad and brother for providing her with encouragement to complete her degree.

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Saint Leo students reach out to alumni

2009 SOAP students Wesley Johnson ’11, Diana Kase ’12, Tamara Marsh ’11, and Davion Cooper ’12

It’s summertime and another four Saint Leo University students have been selected for the Student Outreach to Alumni Program (SOAP). The students work in teams of two to call, schedule, and visit with alumni across the country, sharing university news and bringing back alumni news and feedback to the main campus. If you receive a phone call or an email from one of these students, please take a few minutes to talk to them about your Saint Leo experience. They look forward to meeting you on the road this summer!

Meet the 2009 SOAP Team

Wesley Johnson is a junior majoring in English. He resides in Zephyrhills, Florida, and is the drummer for the Time Warp Band. He is also the president of the English Academic Fraternity.

Diana Kase grew up in Oldsmar, Florida. She is a sophomore pursuing a double major in psychology and biology. This fall Diana will be a student chaplain.

Tamara Marsh is from Kingston, Jamaica. She is a junior pursuing a double major in biology and environmental science and hopes to become a medical doctor. She is an active member of the choir and Tri-Beta, the biological science honor society.

Sophomore Davion Cooper is from also from Jamaica. He is a resident assistant, president of the Fine Arts Club, a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and is active in the International Student Association. His major is biology.

Graduates head to law school

Each year, Saint Leo University’s graduating class includes several individuals bound for law school, with a variety of different plans.

The academic backgrounds and career aspirations of three 2009 graduates from the main campus demonstrate how many different majors can prepare students for law-school (our pre-law advising program also helps), and how diverse the opportunities in the field of law have become.

Other alumni who are entering law school or have other academic or professional news to report are encouraged to share these accomplishments with alumni relations. Simply update your profile on the alumni portion of the Web site, www.saintleo.edu.

Alumna Connie Wright ’73 serves as role model for middle school students and university faculty

A group of 30 middle-school students from Dade City were able to
visit the main campus recently to see and hear about the educational possibilities available to them through hard work and perseverance. Having a mentor and support system of friends with like-minded goals can help young people get through tough times and reach their goals, education professors Candace Roberts and Shelli Barton and recent graduate Karen Mapp-Yard told the group.

In fact, the Saint Leo hosts told the students they have a wonderful
role model in one of their administrators at Pasco Middle School, Ms. Connie Wright, who happened to be accompanying the students on
their visit to campus.

Ms. Wright is from Dade City and graduated from a local high school. She enrolled as one of only three young African Americans at Saint
Leo in 1966, a difficult time for her. She even left school for a time
after she married. But things changed when she got a job on campus through the help of a mentor, Father Dennis Murphy. “Bless him, I will never forget him,” she recalls. She decided that since she was
working on campus she should continue her studies and finished the
coursework for her degree in business in 1972. She took the additional courses needed to get a teaching certificate from Pasco Hernando Community College, which allowed her to start a teaching career at Pasco Middle School in 1973. “I’ve been here for 35 years.” She has taught business and math, and has helped education students from Saint Leo who completed student-teaching at Pasco Middle.

Ms. Wright is officially retiring from Pasco
Middle School, so Saint Leo wanted to recognize her for her dedication to education. The School
of Education and Social Services took the opportunity of the Pasco Middle School trip to campus to surprise Ms. Wright with an award, in front of the students, as Dr. Barton related the story of Ms. Wright’s educational journey. The award reads, in part: “We value your commitment to our partnership
with Pasco Middle School and to the success of your students and
the future generations of Pasco County.”

Saint Leo and the education faculty have invited Ms. Wright to stay involved in school partnership programs after her retirement. Pasco Middle School also hopes Ms. Wright will continue her mentorship of students as a volunteer and guest speaker.

>View photos

Young families celebrate commencement at Key West Center on May 22

Wife Jessica Barroso and daughter Daniella celebrate with husband and father Jason Barroso '09

Jesus '09 and April '09 Camarena with their son, Isaac

Laura Washington '09 with her husband, Leandre Sr. and son, Leandre, Jr.