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Benedictine Spirit Award
Pio Rizzo ’01 '07 is a proud Saint Leo University alumnus and former member of the Saint Leo Lions men’s soccer team. He earned both his bachelor’s degree and MBA from Saint Leo, where his personal and professional roots run deep, including marrying his wife, Bree, at the Saint Leo Abbey.
A longtime Pasco County resident, Pio has dedicated 25 years to education and remains deeply proud to serve as an educator. He currently serves as the principal at Notre Dame Catholic School in Spring Hill. Pio and Bree are the proud parents of three sons: Reece, Ben, and Charlie.
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Distinguished Alumnus/a Award
Scott Woodward ’86 is the founder, CEO, and chief creative officer of SEW Branded, a New York-based brand marketing consultancy. A classically trained marketing veteran, he brings a unique blend of strategic and creative expertise that consistently delivers aspirational, design-driven work.
Scott has served as a senior in-house global marketing and creative executive for iconic brands that have included Ray-Ban, Calvin Klein, and the Movado Group portfolio of owned and licensed luxury watches, where he managed multidisciplinary teams and agencies that consistently created notable advertising, public relations and retail campaigns. He also held a senior brand role at Omnicom’s Arnell Group where he worked on both strategic and creative initiatives for Martha Stewart Omnimedia, M&M’s Mars Candy, Lego, and The Coca-Cola Company’s Coke and Sprite brands.
Scott began his career in Chevron’s in-house marketing training program. He now shares his diverse 360-degree experience in global branding with an eclectic client roster consisting of both emerging and established brands within his New York-based brand marketing consultancy. His youth empowerment work with Lady Gaga and One Direction has garnered Clio, Summit International, IAC, and Emery Awards. He also was recently honored by the Luisa Diaz Foundation for decades long work in social impact, specifically his “Kindness is Cool” campaign.
Scott holds a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Leo University and an MBA from Loyola University, also having completed Master of Science graduate degree coursework at Villanova University. He serves on various boards as an advisor and is an adjunct faculty within the Strategic Design & Management Department at Parsons School of Design, The New School.
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Mary Cannon Cabot Spirit Award
Sr. Donna DeWitt O.S.B., ’73 was born in Bloomfield, New Jersey, and later moved with her family to Miami, Florida, where she attended Catholic schools. In August 1963, she entered the Benedictine Sisters of Florida and made her first religious vows in 1965.
Sister Donna was the first Sister from Holy Name Monastery to graduate from Saint Leo College (now University) after it became a four-year, coeducational institution. She taught grade school for many years before becoming the monastery kitchen manager, preparing meals for the sisters and guests for more than 26 years. Gifted in baking, she continues to embody Benedictine hospitality through her service as weekend kitchen manager.
Sister Donna decided to return to education in 2008, teaching at Sacred Heart Early Childhood Center in St. Joseph, Florida. Now retired, she volunteers at Daystar Hope in the food pantry. She celebrated her Jubilee (60 years) of service to God on May 16, 2025.
Sister Donna also has a long history of civic service. She ran and was elected to a seat as a St. Leo Town Commissioner in 1997 and still serves in that capacity.
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Roaring Onward Award – Class of 2025
Wakens Leonard ’20 completed a double major in criminal justice and psychology during his time at Saint Leo University. Today, he is a law enforcement professional with the Orlando Police Department, where he has served since 2020. He is committed to public safety, community engagement, and professional excellence, approaching the role with courage, pride, and commitment.
A proud Saint Leo alumnus, Wakens is honored to represent the University through his continued dedication to serving others.
Sabria Thompson-Murphy ’18 is a distinguished individual known for her academic prowess and dedication to impactful change. She earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting with a minor in economics from Saint Leo University in 2018. She then began working at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in Tampa, Florida, while pursuing a master’s degree in accounting, which she completed in 2021.
After more than five years in the accounting profession, Sabria transitioned into entrepreneurship and is now a business owner. As both an entrepreneur and philanthropist, she is guided by her favorite scriptures, Philippians 2:3–4 and Psalm 9:10, which emphasize humility, service to others, and trust in God.
Her journey exemplifies a commitment to excellence and meaningful contributions. In 2025, Sabria established two scholarships to help support Bahamian business and accounting students at Saint Leo’s University Campus: the Sabria Murphy Scholarship, which awards $3,000, and the Sabria and Bruce Murphy Scholarship, awarding $2,000.
Raisa Alstodt ’16 '20 earned her Bachelor of Arts in hospitality management and tourism development from Saint Leo University in 2016, followed by an MBA with a specialization in project management in 2020. Since then, she has built a life defined by service, leadership, and impact.
Raisa currently serves as a federal employee in program management for USDA child nutrition programs, including summer feeding initiatives that provide meals to millions of children and significantly reduce the summer food gap. Her work has been recognized with multiple Under Secretaries’ Awards and, most recently, a Secretary’s Award, one of USDA’s highest honors. Prior to USDA, Raisa served in the Peace Corps in Ukraine, where she taught English and supported community development efforts.
Outside of work, Raisa volunteers with her Community Emergency Response Team in Washington, D.C., manages communications for Women of Peace Corps Legacy focused on female empowerment and mentorship, and works with the Alliance for Ukraine's mini-grants program for humanitarian aid projects in Ukraine. Additionally, Raisa cherishes traveling internationally, hiking National Parks, rock climbing, playing soccer in her local league, experimenting with varying art medians, and spending time with her partner and 11-year-old pup, Yoda the Yorkie.
Dr. John Watts ’23 is an assistant professor and program director of the Criminal Justice and Restorative Justice Program at the University of Saint Joseph. He also is an adjunct professor at Russell Sage College, teaching in the Criminal Justice and Community Corrections Program.
John is a retired chief probation officer with 20 years of experience working at the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, Court Support Service Division. He is a national trainer and consultant with Policy Research Associates and the Center for Effective Public Policy, holding certifications as a Criminal Justice Addictions Professional and in Forensic Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
John earned his bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Charter Oak State College, a master's degree in management and organizational leadership from Albertus Magnus College, and a doctorate in criminal justice from Saint Leo University.
Gary Ruebush ’14 grew up on a farm in northwest Ohio, surrounded by corn, soybean, and wheat fields, where he developed a love for fishing and the outdoors. During his sophomore year of high school, he spent three weeks in Haiti with his church group, helping build a schoolhouse for local children.
After graduating from high school, Gary joined the military to see the world. His first duty station after graduating from basic and Job training was in Germany, where he traveled throughout Europe, including a visit to Vatican City. Over the course of a 24-year military career, Gary served around the globe in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
While on active duty, Gary began his associate degree at Saint Leo University and later enrolled in the bachelor’s degree program, completing his coursework online while stationed overseas. He earned his degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting in 2014 and retired from the military in 2015.
After retiring from the military, Gary transitioned to a career in finance, serving in various roles for multiple municipalities. He currently works for the town of Lantana, Florida, where he takes pride in the diligent stewardship of taxpayer dollars and in providing quality service to the community. Above all, Gary is a Lion and is guided by his love of Jesus Christ.
Dr. James Scott ’23 is began his law enforcement career as a New York City correction officer before moving to Connecticut, where he served more than two decades with the Connecticut State Police. During his tenure, he held roles as a patrol trooper, academy instructor, patrol sergeant, and ultimately as the commanding officer of the recruiting unit.
In addition to his law enforcement service, James spent 20 years in the Army National Guard specializing in military police operations. A veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, he retired with the rank of master sergeant.
James holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, a master’s degree in administration, and a doctorate in criminal justice from Saint Leo University. Following his retirement from the state police, James transitioned into higher education and now serves as an associate professor of criminal justice at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut, where he teaches and mentors students pursuing careers in public service.