TAMPA – Saint Leo University celebrated the Class of 2025 along with some “firsts” as more than 1,400 students crossed the stage in two commencement ceremonies May 7 at the Florida State Fairgrounds.
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. They participated in a pinning ceremony May 5, pledging to uphold the ethical, scientific and legal standards of their profession.
Emma Hayhurst, of Merrimack, New Hampshire, 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, who became the first graduate in Saint Leo’s Bachelor of Arts in Music Program in 30 years. Saint Leo once again began offering a music major in fall 2023.
“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. Edward Dadez was named president emeritus, having retired in February after serving as the university’s 11th president. Dadez also is 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 Edwin Narain, chair of the board of trustees.
Receiving an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree was trustee and alumnus John Picciano, who is the CEO of Oglethorpe Inc. As a student, Picciano 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.
Morning Ceremony
Graduating during the morning ceremony were University Campus undergraduate students; master’s degree students in accounting, business administration, computer science, cybersecurity and psychology; and Doctor of Business Administration students.
Recognized as valedictorian and salutatorian for the Class of 2025 with a 4.0 GPA was Kristina Arwady, of Altamonte Springs, 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, was the campus salutatorian, 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) 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. “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.”
Wittenberg Weiner 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,” Wittenberg Weiner 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, Georgia, who earned a bachelor’s in business administration, and Kamera Woodruff from Madison, 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, 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.
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 hopes they use for the rest of their lives is “resilience,” and the key phrase is “be the change: say ‘I will.’” The key memory is 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; and 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 disappointments, and yet eventually his life 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.”
