Saint Leo University recognizes Tampa Bay area legislators for service

1. LEO, FL – Saint Leo University President Jeffrey Senese presented two Florida legislators—former state Rep. Danny Burgess and state Rep. Adam Hattersley—with awards commemorating their public and military service on Tuesday, March 12, in Tallahassee, FL.

Burgess was recognized for his service and support for Florida’s military and veterans while representing District 38, which includes eastern and part of central Pasco County, in the Florida Legislature. Gov. Ron DeSantis recently appointed Burgess as executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, which conducts outreach to connect veterans with their earned services, benefits, and support. Burgess, a captain and Judge Advocate in the U.S. Army Reserve, is from Zephyrhills, FL.

Hattersley received recognition for his service in the U.S. Navy where he was a nuclear submarine officer for eight years. He also served on the ground with an Army unit in Operation Iraqi Freedom and was awarded a Bronze Star for his service. Hattersley represents Hillsborough County’s 59th District, which includes Valrico, Dover, Seffner, Riverview, Palm River, Clair-Mel City, and part of Brandon.

“Saint Leo is grateful to have the support of legislators who advocate for our military students,” said Saint Leo President Jeffrey Senese. “Each year, our university serves more than 4,000 active-duty military service members and veterans who depend on their benefits to pursue their educational goals.”

Saint Leo University, a private, nonprofit university in Pasco County, has a long history of educating active-duty military, veterans, and their families. In 1973, Saint Leo began offering classes on military bases and has since expanded to teach on 14 bases located in Virginia, Florida, California, Texas, South Carolina, and Mississippi.

More About Saint Leo University

Saint Leo University (www.saintleo.edu) is a modern Catholic teaching university that is firmly grounded in the liberal arts tradition and the timeless Benedictine wisdom that seeks balanced growth of mind, body, and spirit. The Saint Leo University of today is a private, nonprofit institution that creates hospitable learning communities wherever students want to be or need to be, whether that is a campus classroom, a web-based environment, an employer’s worksite, a military base, or an office park. Saint Leo welcomes people of all faiths and of no religious affiliation, and encourages learners of all generations. The university is committed to providing educational opportunities to the nation’s armed forces, veterans, and their families. Saint Leo is regionally accredited to award degrees ranging from the associate to the doctorate, and the faculty and staff guide all students to develop their capacities for critical thinking, moral reflection, and lifelong learning and leadership.

The university remains the faithful steward of the beautiful lakeside University Campus in the Tampa Bay region of Florida, where its founding monks created the first Catholic college in the state in 1889. Serving nearly 12,000 students, Saint Leo has expanded to downtown Tampa, to other sites in Florida and beyond, and maintains a physical presence in seven states. The university provides highly respected online learning programs to students nationally and internationally. More than 93,000 alumni reside in all 50 states, in Washington, DC, in three U.S. territories, and in 76 countries.