By Lester Williams Jr, Contributing Writer
Saint Leo University is looking toward the future. With the grand opening of the new Wellness Center, the University has expanded its ability to cater to the needs of its students, staff, and the community around the institution.
The opening of the Wellness Center took place on Friday, April 8, at 2 pm, at 12338 Priory Cir, San Antonio, FL 33576. The opening ceremony included a reception, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and a commemorative reception giveaway. Attendees were provided with free snacks, refreshments, promotional bags, and yellow sunglasses.
Although the center was closed for the ceremony on April 8, its services are offered every day. Monday – Thursday the Center’s hours are 8 am – 10 pm and on Friday – Sunday its hours are from 8 am to 6 pm.
“We are very excited,” said Kathleen Pantalone, the executive director of the wellness center services and events for worldwide operations. “To be open and be a place that promotes the Benedictine values of community and hospitality.”
For the Wellness Center’s opening ceremony, students, faculty, staff, members of the Saint Leo alumni, and Saint Leo Abbey came together to attend the event.
“The Wellness Center is an awesome addition for students on campus and the community that we hope people enjoy,” said Dr. Jeffrey D. Senese, the current and 10th president of Saint Leo University.
Currently, the center includes a pool, gym, café, counseling services, a University Ministry office, a basketball/volleyball court, a spinning studio for bicycles, and yoga classes.
The health center also can house 5000 people. The center is also offering memberships to people who live around the university and is offering free classes for students.
“So excited to see this amazing day finally happen for our students and community.” Dr. Melanie Storms, senior vice president of Saint Leo University. “It has been a labor of love by all of us on the project.”
With this latest milestone for Saint Leo University, many students attended the opening ceremony to learn more about what the center has to offer.
“The new wellness center is a beautiful sight, and the little cafe they have is just so cute,” said Victoria Latalladi, a senior majoring in biomedicine.
“Even if you aren’t an athlete, the space is open to new classrooms and more social locations on this campus,” added Latalladi.
“I feel that a recreational center was all Saint Leo needed,” said Alejandra Galaviz, a pre-med sophomore majoring in medical humanities. “It makes the school complete, and I also like that you can go with friends.”
Although getting to the Wellness Center feels like an exhausting journey to some students, thanks to Saint Leo University’s partnering with Slidr, students now have access to scooters across the campus, allowing them to cut time off their trip to the Wellness Center at a prize.
For students traveling to the Wellness Center using a scooter, one of their best options is to head down to Saint Leo’s bookstore, one of the scooter rest stops.
After setting up the rideslidr app and paying the one-dollar deposit, students can rent a scooter to travel to the Wellness Center located on the west side of campus next to Marmion and Snyder Residence Halls and Benedictine Hall.
The rate to rent a scooter is a one-dollar purchase to activate the scooter plus 10 cents for each minute to ride.
The Wellness Center open for business marks a new era for Saint Leo University that is worth remembering.
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Check out our tour video to find out what is available in the Wellness Center!
