Sports at St. Leo University

Ehab Faden

Mohmeed Aytah

Bair Bardyshev

Sports at Saint Leo University

            Saint Leo was founded in 1889, and it was a Christian College. However, Saint Leo University had a lot of sports teams from the beginning of the university. A hobby is something you like to do when you are free. Hobbies make your life more interesting. Nowadays, Saint Leo became university, which means it has a lot of students from all over the world. Moreover, Saint Leo University has had a lot of accomplishments, and Saint Leo University is working to improve and develop their teams in many different kinds of sports. Nowadays, Saint Leo has  men's and women's soccer teams; men's and women's swimming teams; men's and women's  baseball team men; and women volleyball team. Furthermore, Saint Leo has a fitness center where all the students can improve their shape. At the beginning Saint Leo University had only American students, but the international students started to increase every year from all over the world. This means that Saint Leo University is looking for perspective students and sportsman's not only in America but even in Europe. Our women's soccer team was from England, and we have some swimmers from Poland; there are a lot of English and Brazilian tennis players. However, not all of our sports teams are good. On the other hand, I know that the baseball team was always one of the best teams in Florida. Also, soccer has improved a lot over the last few years and volleyball started growing. There are many kinds of sports in Saint Leo University but baseball, volleyball, and soccer are the most popular sports at Saint Leo University. 

            In this paragraph, I would like to tell you about our Saint Leo Baseball team in the earlier nineties. As a resource, I used our university newspaper, called “Monarch”. My topic was comparing of our old baseball team with nowadays baseball team.

27 of September 1991 was turning day in whole baseball history. It is time when our baseball team started growing up really fast under our new couch – John Schaly. At 27 of September 1991 he made a great speech on SLC`s (Saint Leo College) Monarch baseball field and promised bigger things for SLC baseball team.

            It is some history about our couch. His career in baseball was made predicted by his father who was baseball couch for 29 years. Of course, the father taught his son how to play baseball clearly. With the Marietta team he won the national championship. After it, he becomes a couch in Berry College in Rome, Georgia. Under his leadership, the new team showed perfect results and was only 2 points away from the college world series. Now he continue working and making his family business in Saint Leo College, where he want to made a special baseball program, that will benefit not only from hard-working, but from positive atmosphere too. He said that he would like to win the state championship in his first year.

            After this point, Saint Leo baseball team was developing really quickly. From that time our team became one of the strongest team in whole Sunshine State Conference. Moreover, they still using the John`s Schaly baseball program. I can tell you that during the Fall 2012 and Spring 2013 Semester our baseball team lost only two games with 10 wins. This is the perfect result. One of my friend tried to join our SLU baseball team, but he faced failure. According the statistic, from 20 students, who played baseball in high school and tried to join team here, only 2 were accepted. Most of the players in team were personally selected and recruited by our current couch – Sean O`Connor. It tells us about very high level of our team.

            Volleyball at Saint Leo University is one of the most popular sport, According to Glenn Ladwig " The Saint Leo women's volleyball team has begun the '92-93 year. This is only the second year of the team's existence." (Glenn Ladwing p.6) A lot of people in the world love this game. Saint Leo University has a beautiful court for volleyball and the players are training everyday to be ready for any match this year. Marion Bowman is the building that has the court of Saint Leo University. Saint Leo University has only women's team which is the lady lions. Lady lions is a fantastic team that is improving every year. Lady lions has good players which accomplish many awards. In the meantime, According to Saint Leo News "Sam Cibrone is the head coach, and he was named head coach on May 17, 2004, fans have seen his teams claim a Sunshine State Conference championship. In addition, he has many accomplishments such as, a Sunshine State Conference, an SSC Coach of the far of honor, a NCAA Tournament. "In 2007, Cibrone guided Lady Lions to the most successful season." ( Saint Leo ) Also, they have played many games with many different teams in Florida. "In 2006, Saint Leo volleyball started their season with a huge bang. Lady lions starts season 2006 second ranked." (Alexandra Farmer 8) Recently, the coach has added many players to the team to make it better, and he is trying to work on the weakest area in the team to make it much better. I hope that Saint Leo University plan to have men volleyball team because there are a lot of students who love to play volleyball and they planning to create a team to develop and improve their skills. Also, Saint Leo University has students from all over the world that they can share their experience in volleyball and work hard together to create a fantastic team. I know three of my students who play very well that will make them comfortable playing together in the same team, and they have played many games with different teams. Hopefully, we will hear soon that Saint Leo University is planning to have men volleyball team to participate in different champions in Florida.

 Soccer is of my favorite hobby. In my free time I would love to watch soccer game on the TV or play it with my friends in our university. There are many kinds of sports in Saint Leo University. Soccer is one of most popular sport in Saint Leo University. Saint Leo University pay attention for soccer because it is a famous sport in the world. Soccer in Saint Leo is has teams for men and women. The men have a different schedule than the women. Moreover, in the past Saint Leo University has one court for the soccer. Nowadays, there are more than four courts. The new courts were build in 2012, and they are a fantastic courts. Saint Leo University has a good team that play different game with other teams in Florida . In addition, they are working to make new playgrounds for soccer and it will open next fall of 2013. There are many benefits from soccer game. By doing this kind of activity is such as running and working out. However, the soccer is about 90 minutes that it has 45 minute for each part. Then, 15 minute as brake or resting time for the players between the two parts. In conclusion, there are many sports in Saint Leo University but soccer is the most popular one. In my opinion, soccer makes the students healthier and takes their depression away. Saint Leo University has a fantastic soccer players. There are a lot of players from Saudi Arabia they used to play in famous team in Saudi Arabia. They have won the soccer competition last year. Also, they have won the champion ship that was played in Tampa. The Saudi Culture Mission has celebrated that wining, and they give them awards because they were in the first place.

In conclusion, everyone has a different sport that he/she love to play, and each of the sport is amazing. Sports at Saint Leo is very important because they look for players from all over the world to play at Saint Leo University. Saint Leo University has had many accomplishments. Baseball, Volleyball, and Soccer are the most popular sports in Saint Leo University. Each sport has won a lot of awards, and they are trying to develop and improve their skills. Saint Leo University is a good university that help their students to be a good player, and they have create meeting with their students to see what they need to make them comfortable.

Works Cited.

«Sports». The Lion`s Pride 17 Oct. 2002, p.7 , print (soccer)

«Sports» Jacob Stout, The Lion`s Pride 29 January 2010, p.8 , print (basketball)

«Sports» Michael B. Mueller, Monarch 27 September 1991, p.6 , print (baseball)

«Sports» Amee Withworth, Monarch 27 Septamber 1991, p.6 , print (soccer)

«Sports»  Alexander Farmer, The Lion Pride  17 November 2006 p.8 , print (volleyball)

«Sports»  Glenn Ladwig, Monarch 09 October 1992 p.6 , print (volleyball)

All Around the St. Leo Campus

Jose Leonardo Velazquez

Khalid Almousa

Raiyan Alghafaili

Art Around campus

Outline

1. Introduction

- A brief explanation about the biggest pieces of art in Saint Leo University

2. The Crucifix in Saint Leo Abbey Church.

- Fr. Damian, a priest in Saint Leo Abbey told us the story of the beautiful crucifix.

- Materials and artwork of the Holy Cross.

- The accident installing the Cross.

- Dr. Kirk, the President of Saint Leo University decided to install a Cross in every classroom.

3. "For Those Who Serve", the statue in Dempsey Plaza (Located in front of the bookstore)

- The purpose of that piece of art.

- Information that every student has to know about the sculpture.

- The process.

- Dexter Benedict commentary.

- Dr. Kirk commentary.

4. Statue of the first Afro-American student: Rudolph Antorcha.

- Data about the statue (located between the new dormitories).

- What represent that statue for Saint Leo University.

- A brief explanation about the artist.

5. Conclusion

6. Work Reference

Introduction

            In this section we going to talk about the main pieces of art and sculptures in the University; the history of each and what they symbolize and represent to Saint Leo University. In every building on campus are different kinds of art. Maybe the most viewed and popular sculpture is the one right in front of the bookstore. It is a group of people carrying a statue of liberty and a professor staring at them. That is one of the recently statues, that piece was brought it in 2010, and certainly has a very nice story beyond that we can see everyday walking around the sculpture. Other very interesting sculpture is the new statue in commemoration of the first African-American student in Saint Leo; Rudolph Antorcha, who came about 1898 when the Benedictine monks founded Saint Leo. In the sculpture we can se a Benedictine monk receiving and welcomed in the new student, who is carrying books and smiling. The history behind that piece of art is very interesting too because the sculptors use a very difficult technique and the color of the piece is very nice thank the material used it.

            We will talk about all of these pieces of art in the University. There are plenty amazing pieces, like the new building which has an amazing fish tank in it or the crucifix in Saint Leo Abbey Church. Every piece or art have something interesting with a nice story beyond that we can see. Enjoy!

The Crucifix in Saint Leo Abbey Church

            One of the most oldest pieces of art on campus it is the crucifix in the church of Saint Leo Abbey. That it is an amazing piece of sculpture made of Tennessee marvel, that crucifix was installed in 1940. Abbot Francis who was the man in charge in those days is who commission the sculpture. Father Damian, a priest in the Abbey told us a brief story: When the sculptor and his crew brought the piece to the church, they used a crane to put it in the right place, suddenly when they were arranging the cross, one of the wires of the crane broke up and the wire was whipping all over the place and almost reached a worker. The crucifix fell dawn and broke the altar and a couple things that were there in that moment. Fortunately nothing bad happened.

            The artist made three pieces before get the final piece of that sculpture, the artist worked almost five years to get the official one. Abbot Francis decided to used some Italian tiles to the frame around the cross, and he went to Italy to visit the tiles artist and pick the best choice for the decoration of the cross. Some years before a local artist made the wooden decorations in the top of the crucifix and finally in the latest 40's the crucifix work was done. Today the monks in the Abbey keep the cross in very good shape "...That beautiful crucifix looks exactly like the first day..." Father Damian said while looking at the nicely done sculpture. 

             In 2012 Abbot Isaac gave to Dr. Kirk a small reproduction of the same crucifix and Dr. Kirk decided to get a reproduction of the crucifix to install it in every classroom in the University.

Saint Leo honors the students in armed forces

            Every person on campus has seen the sculpture right outside of the bookstore. Those green big people carrying a statue of liberty that looks like Lady Gaga is very famous in Saint Leo University and the counties around it. It is very true that not so many students or members of the faculty are very informed about the monument. I will try to explain the basic things that every student has to know about the carving.

            Firstly and maybe the most important thing it is the official name of the sculpture; "For Those Who Serve" it is the official title of it. As the title says; the monument is to commemorate Saint Leo's service to the military. It is an important fact that the piece of art is there because it is a reminder of all the students and graduates of Saint Leo working in the military service: “I thought about a sculpture in the plaza as a place of honor for all of our military students and graduates,” Dr. Kirk explains. “I also saw it serving as a daily reminder to all of us of their service, and them being one with us.”

            Dexter Benedict was the artist in charge of the piece of art. The complete statue has a weight of two tons and the height is twenty-two feet. The main material is bronze and the technique is modeling, to that process firstly the artist molded the figures in clay, then cast in wax and ultimately in another mold casting to bronze. Benedict took two years to perfect the four persons carrying the Lady Liberty. Benedict says that "The idea of blending into kind of impressionist and slightly abstractive point of view". He says that he really enjoyed doing that sculpture which took him two years of hard work. The four persons carrying the Statue of Liberty are military servers with uniforms from: Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The artist shows the justice to the racial and ethnic diversity in the military people. Benedict reflected his passion and dedication in his work "When you talk about people who lay their lives on the line for our defense, that’s heroic. That’s been on my mind. That, along with trying to give nobility to the ‘every person’ in the military" he says.

            Staring at the brave persons carrying the Lady Liberty is a man sitting in a bench with scrolls, a computer disc and a book, that symbolize the instruments of learning and he is a faculty member of Saint Leo looking proudly at the loyal serving in the armed forces. “I like to think there’s a kind of spiritual quality to the work, not in a formal religious sense,” Dexter Benedict says, “but in the sense that the human spirit comes through the work.”

            In conclusion, the statue was installed in Dempsey Plaza on November 11th 2010 to commemorate Veteran's Day. Definitely it is a piece or art that every student has to have a picture and feel proud of it.

            "I hope,” Dr. Kirk says, “that the statue becomes a destination piece that attracts visitors just because it is here. I hope that students, faculty, staff, and visitors have the same reaction I had when I saw it: compelling and inspirational. I hope people appreciate how Saint Leo has had so many dedicated faculty and staff who committed themselves to serve those who serve us, so many students and graduates who have served or are now serving in the military. Saint Leo is so much more and greater in mission, spirit, and service than we are just on this campus.”

Statue of the first Afro-American student: Rudolph Antorcha.

            Certainly, Saint Leo has more than 100 years existing. The Benedictine Monks were who decided to found a School to educate people under the Benedictine values. Was in 1898 when the integration was illegal the Benedictine monks welcomed him to the education, something that everyone deserve a chance. "This is a particularly important story for us to tell. We have a core value of respect for all people. To integrate in 1898 when it was against the laws in Florida to integrate, it’s just a very, very powerful statement of that commitment,” Dr. Kirk said in the ceremony of Martin Luther King Jr. 2013.

            Steven Dickey from Tampa was the artist committed to develop the figure of Rudolph Antorcha (The first African- American Student) and a Benedictine monk. Made completely of bronze, the two figures: Antorcha with books under his arm and the monk with his arms wide-open welcoming greeting to the world of opportunities and hope. Dickey did not have a picture of a description of the student; although, he worked focused in the spirit and style in those years when unfortunately people of different race would not be together. The monk just dressing a nice Benedictine habit as usual looks very happy welcoming to the new student. Even though in 19th century was illegal by a state law educate white and black people in the same college, the monks did not worry about it "There would have been a sense of trepidation," Dickey said.

            The statue is located in the walkway between the new two dormitories, with some embedded lighting that illuminate at night. That statue represents how sometimes is not politically incorrect break the rules if the purpose is good. Having that statue as a centerpiece between classrooms, make us have always in mind that all human beings deserve the same opportunities not matter the color of the skin of the country of origin.

            The Saint Leo student received the sculpture very excited and they really appreciate having that piece of art because represents equality in the University and the World.

- "I can tell that in a sense it’s him guiding him and there's always help here, especially at Saint Leo. I can say I always have help,” Karina Escalera, a student.

- "Back in 1898, the student had to endure so much. No one really respected him but Saint Leo gave him the opportunity that no one else really gave him,” said John Agnello, a student.

" 'A Spirit of Belonging' is splendid, and we are going to cherish it," Dr. Arthur Kirk said.

Conclusion

            Certainly, we are lucky to have those very pieces of art in this campus. We made a research about each piece to know more about it and share with every interested person in art around Saint Leo University. Always is better know more about the things we see daily, it was unbelievable for me to knew that a lot of students do not are informed about those pieces of art, but that is the purpose of this paper. We do not expect that every student who read this paper will go to see how great and beautiful are the sculptures, but at least make them know what the sculptures symbolize for Saint Leo University according with our Benedictine values which we are proud.

Word Reference

- Dr. Arthur Kirk quotes (http://www.saintleo.edu/news-events/news/press-releases/a-lasting-tribute-at-saint-leo-university.aspx).

- Dr. Kirk and Dexter Benedict quotes (http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/28043)

- MLK Day at Saint Leo (http://www.pride-online.net/54230).

- Veterans Sculpture at Dead City, quotes. (http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_pasco/dade_city/veterans-sculpture-unveiled-in-dade-city).

- Statue marks milestone at Saint Leo University, Dr. Kirk quote. (http://tbo.com/pasco-county/statue-marks-milestone-at-saint-leo-university-schools-first-black-student-613963).

- Saint Leo honors first African American Student, Dr Kirk, Steven Dickey and students quotes.(http://cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/news/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2013/2/11/saint_leo_honors_fir.html).

- Saint Leo University. (http://www.saintleo.edu).

How Our New Students Can Get a Driver's License

Abdulmajeed Alali

Faisal alqarni

Abdullah algadeer

How to Get a Driver’s License

          If someone wants to drive he has to get a driver license. A lot new student come to the United stats and drive with out driver license thinking that the rules are like the rules in their countries but its not. There are some students that got in troubles because of driving with out driver license and some of them got in gall. When people come to the U.S they can drive with their international driver license but for three months only, and that what makes some people get lazy and don’t get their U.S driver license before those three months. There are some students that have been studying in the U.S for three years and they didn’t get a driver license yet but some of them have been lucky that the police didn’t poll them over other ways they may get in a big trouble. New students think that getting the driver license is hard but it’s not because the DMV gave them a lot of help. For example, they allow the international Pearson to take a translator with them, and they can make one of the employs go with the person how wants to take the test and ask them with explaining in steed of taking the computer exam. There is an exam that could alcohol exam; this exam will teach people how to be responsible about drinking and driving which is an important thing to know. Drinking alcohol and driving is one of the most dangers thing that a person can do, it can kill him and kill incent people. According to Genevra Pittman, NEW YORK more than 50% of the people who get killed in a car accident had alcohol or drugs in their system at the time of the crash, according to a new study. The international students that have an international driver license don’t have to take the alcohol exam that takes 4 hours. That’s show the student how the DMV made it easer for the international students. Other thing that makes getting the driver license an important thing is buying a car. When a person wants to buy a car he has to get insurance. The insurance companies in the United Stats are so scrounger and they add fees for any simple mistake. The person who doesn’t having a driver license will pay a lot of money to get insurance. To get the driver license a person should follow some steps and those steps are not hard but people feel lazy to do them. The steps that the person should take to get a driver license are getting all of his documentation that DMV need, take the exams and passing them, and pay the fees. If someone do these things, he will get the driver’s license by mailing it to his home or by asking him to pike it up from them. When people get their driver’s license they can drive with out any problems in the U.S streets.

First, the person who is applying need to have his identification ready; before, he go to them. The identifications required are an ID that has the person name and picture. This ID most the time will be the person’s passport. The ID will help them to know the person who is applying and match his information on the driver’s license that his getting. The second thing that they will ask for is two mail proofs of address that the person live in to verify identity and legal status. They need to know the place that the person lives on to know how to get him when they want him. Another reason why they need the address is the tickets that the person is going to get will come to the address that he but on file. If the person who is applying is an international student they will ask him to get his I-20 to prove that he is legal in the county.  Finally, with collecting all the information they need from the person, he need to be there on time to a vision test and take a picture for his license

Second step, before people go to the driver license office they need to take the four hour drug and alcohol traffic awareness course, the written DMV test on road signs, and rules they all available online From approved school. If the person who is applying to get the driver license has another driver license from any other place in the world he dose not have to take the four hour drug and alcohol traffic awareness course. The signs test will tell if the person knows all the signs that he will see in the road, which is very important. The rules test will tell if the person knows the rules of driving. For example, it will teach him the right time to use the turning signals. After you receive the certificate to completing the courses then he need to make an appointment with the driver license office to get the test-driving behind the wheel. In the driving test a person of the DMV will go with the one who want to take the test in your own car and testing his way of driving. The vehicle that the person will take the test in should have a valid tag, proof insurance, and pass the vehicle inspection.

            Third step is paying the fees. To get a driver license people should pay the fees. For example, the fee to get a new Florida driver license is $48. DMV have different types of driver license such as learners Drivers License, class E renewal, class D driver’s license renewal, and commercial Drivers License. Each one of the driving license types has a different amount of fee. After paying all the fees that the person wants to get he can get his driver’s license. There are some other fees that the person who is getting the driver’s license is going to pay after that which is are the fees to renew the driver’s license and if the he lose it he should pay to get another one.  

              In conclusion, getting a driver’s license is so important for all people. People should not driver with out a driver license so they don’t get tickets. All though, the DMV made getting the driver’s license easer for the international people, there are some of them didn’t want to get it because the y think that it will be just okay not to have one. It is not okay to drive with out a driver’s license because in some case some of those people go to gall. Getting a lot of tickets is not fun as well. People who dose not speaks English very well will not have any problems with getting the driver license. The DMV allow those people to have a person that translate for them during the test that they are taking to get the driver’s license. The driver’s license that the international people have allow them to use it in the U.S for only three month all though there are some people that have been driving in the U.S for three years with out a driver’s license. Some of those people that drive without a driver’s license for years and didn’t get on trouble are lucky but they will get on trouble one day if they don’t get their driver’s license. And people who have a driver’s license from other countries don’t have to take the four hours alcohol and drugs exam. Even though, the alcohol and drugs exam is important because a lot of the accidents in the U.S are from drivers that drive under influence. Getting driver’s license will save people a lot of money not just that they will not take tickets that they don’t have one, but even with buying a car. To be able to buy a car people should have insurance. The insurance companies charge a lot of money for people who dose not have driver’s license. There is a big different between the price that the person with out a driver ‘slicense pays and the price that the person with a driver license pays. The steps that the person should do are very simple, but people are so lazy to do them. If those people think about those simple steps they can do it in one single day. Those steps include getting all the identification and the paper work, taking the entire test, and paying the fees. After doing these things, the person will be able to get the driver’s license. People get their driver’s license in 30 days, for the most time, in their mailbox or the DMV asks them to come and pick it up form their office. That is how simple people can get their driver’s license and they should get it and drive safe and responsible.