The University welcomed its newest alumni, honored Dr. Ed Dadez as president emeritus, and awarded trustee John Picciano a Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, during two ceremonies.
With more than 1,400 students crossing the stage in two commencement ceremonies Wednesday, May 7, Saint Leo University celebrated the Class of 2025 along with some “firsts” among the graduates, as well as honoring some university legacies. The graduates, families, faculty, and staff came together at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, FL, for the ceremonies.
Twelve students proudly claimed the title of “first” as they are Saint Leo’s first graduates in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program in the College of Health Professions. On Monday, May 5, they participated in a pinning ceremony, pledging to uphold the ethical, scientific, and legal standards of their chosen profession. Emma Hayhurst of Merrimack, NH, said she chose Saint Leo because of the university’s dedication to building a new nursing program. “Additionally, Saint Leo’s strong values of compassion, integrity, and service reflect the kind of nurse I aspire to be,” said Hayhurst, one of the first graduates.
Another student celebrating being “first” was Forgive Semackor of Riverview, FL, who became the first graduate in Saint Leo’s Bachelor of Arts in Music Program in 30 years. In Fall Semester 2023, Saint Leo once again began offering a music major.
“I knew I wanted to be a teacher, and when I found out Saint Leo was re-introducing the major, I decided that it would be a great choice to teach a subject that I was really passionate about,” Semackor said.
The commencement ceremonies also provided an opportunity to recognize the contributions made by two longtime supporters and benefactors of the university. Dr. Edward Dadez was named president emeritus, having retired in February after serving as the university’s 11th president. Dadez, an alumnus who earned a Master of Business Administration degree in 2002.
“During his tenure Dr. Dadez addressed the challenges that Saint Leo University was facing, he led the faculty and staff, changing the culture of the university and ensured that Saint Leo had a strong focus on students and their success,” said Saint Leo University Board of Trustees Chair Edwin Narain in conferring the emeritus title upon Dadez.
Receiving an honorary degree was Board of Trustees member and alumnus John Picciano, CEO of Oglethorpe Inc. As a student, he distinguished himself and was named outstanding sophomore and junior and served as the president of his fraternity and the Interfraternity Council. He continued a life of service to his community, making a difference in the lives of those with mental health and addiction issues. And he continued his lifelong contributions to his alma mater.
“I therefore recommend the university grant John R. Picciano, Class of 1969, the degree of Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, in recognition of his outstanding commitment to Saint Leo University, his community, and in recognition of the inspiration example he sets for all,” said Dr. Susan Kinsella, vice president of Academic Affairs, in conferring the honorary degree.
Morning Ceremony
Graduating during this ceremony were University Campus undergraduate students; master's degree students in accounting, business administration, computer science, cybersecurity, and psychology; and Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) students.
Recognized as valedictorian and salutatorian for the Class of 2025 with a 4.0 GPA was Kristina Arwady, of Altamonte Springs, FL, who graduated summa cum laude with bachelor’s degrees in management and medical humanities: pre-med with a minor in Spanish and from the Honors Program. Arwady also was a member of the women’s soccer team.
“Over the last three and a half years, Saint Leo University has become my family,” Arwady said. “The people have made this place home, and I am so grateful for the many opportunities and experiences I have had here.”
Jacqueline Pollok of Dade City, FL, was the campus salutatorian for 2025, graduating summa cum laude with bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice: homeland security and international studies. She also graduated from the Honors Program and was the recipient of the 2025 Clara McDonald Olson Scholarship Excellence Award.
Giving the morning commencement address was 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.
Her advice to the new graduates: Don’t be afraid to take a different path. “In my own life, it was the times that I took a huge pivot from what everyone seemed to expect from me that I found my biggest success,” Wittenberg Weiner said. “At this point, I’ve made that pivot multiple times in my life. Each time, I heard: ‘You’re crazy.’ ‘This isn’t going to work.’ ‘You’re throwing away everything you worked for.’ Thanks to an amazing mentor who guided me the first time I even contemplated taking a path that was different than what was laid out for me, I realized something: Just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you have to.”
She said she gathered the information from her naysayers, weighed each decision carefully. “I’ll tell you that the four-word response that fueled more of my success than any other words: ‘Oh really? Watch me,” Wittenberg Weiner told the graduates.
Admitting to being a “goody two-shoes,” she said she found ways to upend expectations without breaking the rules. “As a young overachiever, I got really good at knowing all of the rules and all of the expectations,” Wittenberg Weiner said. “But what I didn’t realize until later is that there is a ton of space, in both those written and unwritten rules, to find your own authentic path to your own version of success.”
Afternoon Ceremony
Graduating during the afternoon ceremony were Center for Online Learning and education center undergraduate students; World Campus students (studying internationally); master’s degree students in creative writing, criminal justice, education, education specialist, instructional design, social work, and theology; and doctoral students in criminal justice and education.
Being recognized among students from Saint Leo’s Center for Online Learning were top performers, graduating summa cum laude with a 4.0 cumulative GPA, were Frances Wesby from Grovetown, GA, who earned with a bachelor’s in business administration, and Kamera Woodruff from Madison, FL, who earned 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 graduating summa cum laude, was Leslie Willis from Brooksville, FL, who earned a bachelor’s in elementary education.
Giving the commencement address for the afternoon ceremony was retired Maj. Gen. James S. Hartsell, 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.
Hartsell said his “mission will be accomplished” if the students kept a key word, key phrase, and a key memory that “you can carry with you in your heart, your mind, and your spirit as you embark on your exciting new life pathways as graduates of Saint Leo University.”
That key word he hoped they use for the rest of their lives is resilience. “The key phrase is ‘be the change; say I will,’ and the key memory I want you carry with you to use when you need it to help inspire and motivate yourself during your life endeavors, is where this word and this phrase came from. He attributed them to their fellow alumnus, Evin B. Hartsell, who earned a bachelor’s in psychology in 2016 and master’s in business posthumously in 2018.
Evin, the Hartsells’ second son, was born with a rare congenital neuromuscular dystrophy disease. While he was never able to walk and had to use a ventilator to breathe, he was filled with “self-generated determination to make a difference in the world by finding ways to help others to better themselves,” Hartsell said. “He did this by becoming a Big Brother counselor; an advocate by volunteering at the James R. Haley Veterans Medical Center, by helping charter the Phoenix Rising Power wheelchair soccer team, by helping to charter the Kappa Sigma fraternity at Saint Leo Leo, by writing an autobiography that he entitled Abled in a Disabled World where he boldly shares his life’s journey of physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual challenges and discouragements, and yet eventually victories.”
“Graduates, like your fellow Saint Leo alumnus Evin Hartsell, regardless of what life circumstances you may find yourself in after today, you too can choose to be resilient and to be the change for the better.”
VIDEO:
The recordings of the two commencement ceremonies will be posted in the future to https://www.saintleo.edu/academics/academic-affairs/florida-commencement