SAINT LEO UNIVERSITY

NOVEMBER 2008

Fall Family Festival

Parents joined students at the main campus for Fall Family Festival the weekend of October 24. Festival highlights included a western rodeo with bucking bulls and clowns, as well as a student production of Ubu Roi, the early absurdist play by Alfred Jarry.

John F. Hughes ’64 has been honored with the 2008 Florida Benedictine Spirit Award for his dedication to Saint Leo, for embracing the Benedictine lessons of Saints Benedict and Scholastica, and for becoming a model of those qualities in all aspects of his life.

After studying with the last class of Saint Leo College Prep School, Hughes graduated with distinction from the University of Notre Dame.

For years, Hughes has remained devoted to Catholic education. He served on the board of directors of the Saint Leo Alumni Association from 1999 to 2007 (as long as the bylaws allow), working to nurture a greater sense of community among several generations of members. He served as treasurer and helped the association achieve a solid financial footing. Most recently, he helped lead a group to create a new scholarship fund honoring one of the abbey’s monks, Father Robert Velten. The scholarship will fund its first student at Saint Leo University next year.

The abbey, the university, and the monastery presented Mr. Hughes with a medal depicting Saint Benedict, along with engraved bookends bearing, in Latin, the Benedictine motto: “That in all things God may be glorified.”

U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Vernita Handsborough ’08 represented her classmates as the student speaker at SLU’s Virginia commencement reception in June. A single mother who serves at the Joint Warfighting Center in Suffolk, Virginia, Handsborough says she was often overwhelmed but never discouraged. A turning point came when she read a quotation about the nature of fear. “After I was given [that] quote to read, my whole outlook on life changed,” she said. “Every time I wanted to quit, I thought about my son and the example that I wanted to set for him. Needless to say, I never gave up and never gave in.” Handsborough earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and is now working toward a master’s in criminal justice at Saint Leo.

To read Vernita Handsborough’s speech, click here.

Joseph B. St. John '04, chief of police of Columbus, Mississippi, recently wrote about his Saint Leo University experience, “The flexible scheduling and commitment to adult learning made it possible for me to get a four year degree and enabled me to work full time and also be a full time father. Without my degree, I would not be chief of police or have any of the success that I have had during my career.” Prior to becoming police chief in 2007, St. John worked for 23 years for the police department of Newport News, Virginia.

Veterans Day Ceremony November 11, 2008, 11:00 a.m. On the green between Saint Edward and Saint Francis Halls SLU Main Campus Savannah Alumni Networking Dinner November 14, 2008 Saint Leo Southwest Florida Alumni Golf Classic December 6, 2008 Miramar Lakes Beach and Golf Club Click here for more information. Homecoming 2009 March 26-29, 2009 Saint Leo University Main Campus Click here for more information. Savannah Alumni-Student River Cruise April 2009 Savannah, Georgia Mitteleuropean Tour for Students and Alumni May 3, 2009 Europe Click here for more information. Northeast Florida Alumni Great Expectations Event May 2009 Savannah Alumni Breast Cancer Walk May 2009 Ocala Alumni Celebration of Excellence June 2009

"Saint Leo calling . . ."
Students reach out to alumni this fall

This fall, select students will be reaching out by telephone to alumni like you. These undergraduates want to learn about your Saint Leo experience and how you are using your Saint Leo education today. In turn, they will share their Saint Leo experiences with you. These students are members of the Student Outreach to Alumni Program (SOAP) and they are working on a new project to collect your favorite Saint Leo memories.

Saint Leo alumni number more than 50,000 and are diverse—living in many places across the U.S. and in countries around the world. As alumni, you have so much to offer our current students. Whether you attended class at the main campus, at one of Saint Leo’s regional education centers, or through the Center for Online Learning, the stories you share will open minds and broaden horizons.

The SOAP students will be gathering your narratives and saving them to a "Favorite Saint Leo Memories" section on the alumni Website
(http://alumni.saintleo.edu). We hope each and every one of you contributes to this archival collection. When a Saint Leo University student calls, please answer the telephone and share your favorite Saint Leo memory!

Saint Leo Alumni Association Board of Directors call for nominations

The Association and Board Development Committee of the Saint Leo Alumni Association is soliciting nominations for the Board of Directors for its 2009 – 2012 term. Nominees must have matriculated at Saint Leo University, Saint Leo College, Saint Leo College Preparatory School or Holy Name Academy. Members of the Board of Directors, the Alumni Association, and the Saint Leo community are encouraged to nominate individuals who are active and committed to serving the university, and are willing to make a commitment to the Association’s Board of Directors for a three-year term. Sitting directors may be nominated for a second consecutive three-year term.

The Board Development Committee considers the following qualifications essential for nomination to the Board of Directors: dedication and active service to Saint Leo University, current service to the Alumni Association, ongoing involvement in Alumni Association programs, and leadership through support of the Saint Leo University Annual Fund.

Those nominating an individual for consideration should know the candidate personally and be comfortable with his/her ability and desire to serve the Alumni Association. They should provide the nominee with the attached documentation and are responsible for making sure a complete nomination package is submitted to the Alumni Association prior to the nominations deadline.

A complete nominations package will consist of:
1. Completed Nomination Form
2. Letter of Support from the person nominating the candidate
3. Personal Statement from the nominee

Attention Nominee: The following documents are to read and understand before accepting a nomination:
1. Statement of Board of Directors Responsibilities
(http://alumni.saintleo.edu/193.php)
2. Mission Statement of Saint Leo Alumni Association
(http://alumni.saintleo.edu/192.php)

To nominate a classmate, friend, or even yourself, please click this link or contact the Office of Alumni Relations (352) 588-8667.

Athletics names new head women’s golf coach

Director of Athletics Francis X. Reidy announced the addition of Erika Danford to the Lions' coaching staff as the new head women's golf coach. Danford comes to Saint Leo after a two-year stint as an instructor for the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Orlando, Florida.

"We are very pleased to add someone of Erika's experience and energy to our program," Reidy said. "Her background from the Leadbetter Academy, business side of golf, and balanced collegiate resume made her a great fit for our developing program at Saint Leo."

A 2006 graduate of Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina, Danford played on the Catamount women's golf team where she finished her career ranked in the top-20 in the Southern Conference and sits ninth all-time at WCU in scoring average.

"I feel extremely honored to be joining the Lions, and I am excited to begin working alongside the ladies," Danford said. "They all have tremendous potential, and this program is most certainly on the rise. I look forward to the opportunity to help our team excel not only on the golf course, but within the classroom as well."

More than 80 Saint Leo Preparatory School and Holy Name Academy alumni and friends gathered during the first weekend in October to celebrate the 50th, 55th, and 60th year reunions for the classes of 1958, 1953, and 1948. This event was the first Prep-HNA reunion held in the newly renovated Student Community Center (formerly the McDonald Center). A midday reception was held on Saturday in the Saint Leo College Preparatory School and Holy Name Academy Lounge located on the upper level of the new building.

The third annual Florida Benedictine Spirit Award was awarded to John Hughes ’64 at the Saturday luncheon, October 4. The Florida Benedictine Spirit Award is awarded annually to someone who exemplifies the values articulated fifteen hundred years ago by Saints Benedict and Scholastica and to someone who demonstrates an uncommon and sustained devotion to one or more of our three institutions—Saint Leo College Preparatory School, Holy Name Academy, or Saint Leo University. The Prep and Holy Name Reunion continues to be a great tradition.

Homecoming is the perfect time to return to campus in 2009. All alumni are invited! Special reunions are planned for alumni who graduated in years ending in 4 or 9. Many sports teams, social organizations, and Greek organizations will be reuniting throughout the weekend, just as they did last year. 

This month, we want to find out your preferences for Homecoming 2009 events and hotel locations. The Alumni Relations staff is dedicated to making your trip to Saint Leo the best it can be. Please take a few moments to give us your opinions. Click this link to see the complete list of Homecoming events and to fill out the survey.

Meet SLU's new Trustees

Anthony J. Borrell, Jr., is president of Wilbey Industrial Services Corporation (WISCO), an investment company located in Tampa, Florida. He serves on the board of directors for the Outback Bowl, University of Tampa, Merchants Association of Florida, the Borrell Family Foundation, Inc., The Tampa Chamber of Commerce, and the Florida Business BancGroup, Inc. Mr. Borrell is a lifetime resident of Tampa.

Student Trustee Sarah Ann Holz ’10 is majoring in religion and theology and taking a minor in music at Saint Leo’s main campus. She is a member of the university chorus Voices of Christ, Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority, Saint Leo University’s Drama Ministry, and a University Ministry student chaplain. Passionate about both youth and music ministry, Sarah volunteers with Nativity Catholic Church Life Teen Program and serves as vice chair and camp counselor for Life Teen Covecrest. She is excited to be part of the board and looks forward to representing all students to the best of her ability.

Thamir Kaddouri ’94, shareholder in the Law Office of Thamir A.R. Kaddouri, Jr., P.A., in Tampa, Florida, graduated from Saint Leo College with a Bachelor of Arts degree and received his Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School in Boston, Massachusetts. Currently he serves as president of the Saint Leo Alumni Association Board of Directors and chair of the association’s Committee for Communication and Advancement. As president of the Alumni board, Thamir’s goal is to continue efforts to make the Saint Leo Alumni Association an effective organization that provides networking opportunities for our alumni throughout the country.

International jeweler Alfredo J. Molina is chairman and CEO of The Molina Group, based in Phoenix, Arizona, and proprietor of Black, Starr & Frost. Alfredo comes from a long line of master jewelers dating back to seventeenth century Italy. Alfredo and his wife Lisa have chaired numerous charity events in Arizona including the Arizona Cancer Ball, The Samaritan Foundation, The Symphony Ball, The Arizona Heart Ball, and Women of Distinction Gala. In December 2005, Alfredo was honored in Washington, D.C., as one of seven caring Americans and was inducted in to the Frederick Douglass Museum & Hall of Fame for Caring Americans on Capitol Hill.

Bill Pope is CEO of SunChase Holdings, Inc., a diversified holding company with a portfolio that includes residential and commercial real estate, golf courses, hotels, software, and international interests. Bill has completed terms on many non-profit boards including Boys and Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix, the Jason Kidd Foundation, Kids at Hope, Arizona State University Business School Advisory Board, Celebrity Fight Night, and Phoenix Memorial Hospital. Bill is the recipient of The Phoenix Theatre’s “Man of Character Award” and Trends Charitable Fund’s “Fabulous Phoenician Award.” He and his wife Linda are active members of their community and have been recognized for their service with Childhelp USA’s “Spirit of the Children Award,” The American Jewish Committee’s “Human Rights Award,” and Phoenix Memorial Hospital’s “Outstanding Philanthropic Award.”

Shaw student earns Air Force Leadership Award

Senior Master Sgt. William F. Anderson, Jr., a business administration student at Saint Leo’s Shaw AFB Center, was honored with The Secretary of the Air Force Leadership Award for his distinguished contributions to Air University and the Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy. The honor was bestowed on Anderson in recognition of his professionalism, integrity, and exceptional leadership, making him not only the most outstanding student in his class, but also the most outstanding student among nearly 1,400 who attended the academy between March 2007 and February 2008.

Anderson, who currently serves as superintendant of Materiel Management Flight at Shaw Air Force Base, identifies two of Saint Leo’s core values as his own: integrity and excellence.

“Integrity is an absolute must,” Anderson says. “It forms the bond of trust between contemporaries, serves as the default position when making personal and business choices, and represents the depth of one’s character.”

Anderson says, “Excellence is not about trying to succeed at the personal expense of others. Excellence is about learning from and helping others; that continuous revolution of learning and helping determines success.”

State Representative Will Weatherford talks
with students

State Rep. Will K. Weatherford, R-61, visited with students from Saint Leo University on Monday, October 6, at the main campus. Weatherford and the students exchanged views on state issues, the ongoing presidential campaign, and the economic climate students will face upon graduation.

Weatherford, age 28, is running unopposed for re-election to his state district, which covers a large part of east and central Pasco and part of Hillsborough County. He resides in Wesley Chapel.

Weatherford was first elected in 2006 at age 26. “You can do some pretty cool things at a young age,” he told students.

Alumna and student receive honors in Hampton Roads

Each year at the beginning of Fleet Week, the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce names a Military Citizen of the Year. The honor goes to a man or women who makes major contributions to the community and who is an outstanding sailor. This year, Yeoman 1st Class Irana L. Abrams ’03, and Personnel Specialist 1st Class Natasha Hunter, a student at SLU’s Center for Online Learning, were among 13 finalists nominated by the committee for making significant contributions to their communities.

Petty Officer Abrams, who earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Saint Leo, has helped raise more than $300,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for two consecutive years. Petty Office Hunter has worked countless hours providing aid to underprivileged children, the homeless, and adolescent girls, and has worked to recruit others to volunteer for these projects.

Lions go pink for the cure

Photo by Wayne Koehler

Saint Leo’s volleyball team co-hosted "Dig for The Cure" night on October 7 with Florida Southern College during a Sunshine State Conference match-up at George Jenkins Field House in Lakeland, Florida. Both teams wore special pink T-shirts during warm-ups and the FSC Moccasins wore commemorative pink uniforms for the match.  All proceeds from the event benefited the Susan G. Komen Foundation and breast cancer research. Click here to view pictures of the event from The Lakeland Ledger.

Shaw Center donates to AFB library

U.S. Air Force Major Robin Newton thanked Ford Kamin of Saint Leo University’s Shaw AFB Center for several donations to the base library. The most photogenic parts of the package were large stuffed animals, intended for the children’s room of the library.

Pictured above, Ford is holding the giant lion, the mascot for Saint Leo, as other Saint Leo staffers from Shaw handle the rest of the creatures. In the back row, from left to right, are: Cynthia Laumer, holding a sea turtle, a popular local animal; Janice Oden, director or the Shaw Center, with a Dalmation, the dog breed popularly used to promote fire safety with children; and James Justus, holding a penguin.

Frank Osage, academic adviser at the center, shows Major Newton the stuffed-animal version of the T-Rex dinosaur.

In addition to the plush toys, Saint Leo University donated two additional items to help library patrons of all ages. The university donated a web camera for one of the library’s computers. The camera will allow transmission of live images from one computer to another, making it possible for military families who conduct conversations online from one of the library systems to “see” each other while speaking. Also, the university donated an instructional software package that teaches keyboarding skills to novice computer users.

The photos were supplied by Beth Carter, assistant vice president, who also attended the library event.