ST. LEO – Close to 1,000 students, faculty and staff came together Nov. 19 to welcome Jim Burkee as Saint Leo University’s 12th president. The welcome coincided with a Day of Service, which mobilized volunteers across campus, throughout the Tampa Bay region and into communities nationwide.
“We are a university of service. But service is just the beginning. Service is the foundation on which we stand, not the ceiling to which we aspire,” Burkee said. “Today, at this moment in history, Saint Leo stands on the threshold of something remarkable.”
Service across the region
Local volunteers took part in hands-on projects at 30 locations across the Tampa Bay region and on Saint Leo University’s residential campus, while online students and those at the university’s five education centers served in their own communities. Projects ranged from environmental stewardship and campus beautification to supporting nonprofits, schools and care centers.
Burkee joined in throughout the day, beginning with gardening and light grounds work alongside the Benedictine Sisters of Florida at Holy Name Monastery. He later assisted with playground cleanup at the Sacred Heart Early Childhood Center and visited residents at Elevated Estates at The Edwinola in Dade City. On campus, he spent time supporting volunteer efforts at Saint Leo Abbey and other locations.
For Lucinda O’Quinn, director of the Sacred Heart Early Childhood Center, Saint Leo’s help was deeply appreciated.
“The staff and I feel truly blessed by the work that the volunteer team accomplished,” she said.
A community celebration
The Day of Service concluded with a community reception at Saint Leo University’s Wellness Center Gym. Hundreds gathered to welcome Burkee, hear his vision for the university’s future and recognize the collective impact of the day’s work.
Bryan DePoy, Saint Leo’s interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, opened the program by expressing his confidence in the leadership Burkee brings to the university.
“Beginning his presidency with service rather than ceremony sets a tone that aligns with who Jim is and who we strive to be as a university,” DePoy said.
The Benedictine Sisters of Florida at Holy Name Monastery and the Monks of Saint Leo Abbey then offered a Blessing and Laying on of Hands, a Benedictine tradition symbolizing unity in faith and community.
Burkee followed with his presidential address, sharing his vision for Saint Leo’s next chapter.
“Imagine Saint Leo known not for wealth or prestige, but for sending a wave of servant-leaders into a world desperate for them, as we did today,” Burkee said. “This is our calling. This is our responsibility. This is our destiny. And that is why this Day of Service is more than symbolic. It is a declaration.”
