Restaurateur, Former MLB Player To Address Saint Leo University Grads

TAMPA, FL — Richard Gonzmart, fourth generation caretaker of the 1905 Family of Restaurants including the Columbia in Ybor City, and Xavier Scruggs, former Major League Baseball player and current ESPN/MLB Network analyst, will be the commencement speakers at Saint Leo University's graduation ceremonies.

The graduation ceremonies will take place Saturday, May 13 at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. 301 N., Tampa. Gonzmart will speak at the 9 a.m. ceremony, and Scruggs will preside over the 2 p.m. ceremony.

More than 1,300 students — 719 undergraduates and 600 graduate and doctoral students — from the university’s Florida locations as well as those who study online throughout the world will come together to celebrate their achievements.

Doctoral, master’s, bachelor’s and associate degrees will be awarded at the two ceremonies, with 675 students participating in the morning and 644 students receiving their degrees in the afternoon ceremony.

Angelica Molina Arboleda, a native of Colombia, is the valedictorian for the class of 2023. She is an Honors Program student and is graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts in international studies.

Maria Nakata is the salutatorian, graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts in criminal justice with an emphasis on criminalistics.

The most popular undergraduate major this year is criminal justice. Psychology is second, followed by elementary education.