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2024 Alumni Award Recipients

Benedictine Spirit Award

John Flaherty ’67

is a member of the first four-year graduating class of Saint Leo College and was the second student to receive a diploma at graduation. After earning his bachelor’s degree in biology, he began teaching biology at Salesian High School in New Rochelle, NY. There, he discovered that being an educator was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. He furthered his education with a master’s degree in science education from Iona College and an administration certificate from Manhattan College. He went on to become the dean of students and the first lay principal of Salesian High School. He devoted more than 50 years to education and is grateful to have touched the lives of so many young men. John has stayed closely connected to Saint Leo by serving on the Alumni Association Board of Directors and by attending many Homecoming and Alumni Weekend events. He cherishes the fond memories he has with his Kappa Alpha Sigma Fraternity lifelong friends.

Distinguished Alumnus/a Award

Vincent “Dakota” D'Ambrosio ’15 graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from University Campus and later received an associate degree in culinary arts from the Culinary Institute of America. His interests in celebrating all walks of life through a shared meal pushed him naturally to the culinary field. Dakota has worked in the kitchens of three restaurants that earned Michelin stars: Jean Georges, Agern, and Danny Meyer’s Manhatta (all located in New York). In 2021, he joined Mattos Hospitality to run the kitchens of Corner Bar and Swan Room. He is now the culinary director for Mattos, overseeing the culinary operations of Estrela, Altro Paradiso, and Lodi. Dakota has many wonderful memories from his time at Saint Leo, including serving on the Senior Week Committee, planning activities to celebrate their final days at Saint Leo.

Mary Cannon Cabot Spirit Award

Dr. Marion “Marni” Dailey ’68 received her bachelor’s degree in education from the University and went on to have a successful career in education. During her tenure with the Seminole County Public Schools (FL), Marni was a teacher, assistant principal, principal, director of elementary education, and the executive director/assistant superintendent of instructional services. She credits Saint Leo for helping her realize her potential and says that a highlight of her retirement has been renewing her relationship with the University. She has served as a member of the Saint Leo Alumni Association Board of Directors for six years and is a member of the University’s Education Advisory Committee. Marni adores travelling and has been to at least 49 countries and most of the United States. She is proud to support an ongoing scholarship for deserving students and also supports the Para-to-Pro Program offered through the undergraduate education program. In addition to supporting the University, she cherishes the relationships she has with her six nieces and is proud of each one of them.

Roaring Onward Award – Class of 2024

Luckson Abraham ’16 graduated with a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Saint Leo and also holds a master’s in finance and economics from West Texas A&M University. He is a real estate advisor with Keller Williams Central in Plantation, FL, and a leading member of the Agent Leadership Council. In 2022 and 2023, Luckson was recognized as the No. 1 individual agent in units out of more than 150 agents, and in 2023, he was named the No. 3 individual agent in gross commission income out of more than 120 agents. In addition to previously sitting on the Saint Leo Alumni Association Board of Directors, Luckson serves on the Jack and Jill Center’s Young Professionals Network leadership team, the Emerge Broward leadership team, and the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) board. He also is active with the United Way of Broward County’s NextGen Emerging Leaders. Luckson’s favorite memory of his time at Saint Leo is creating the FBLA club on campus and the friendly, down-to-earth people who helped him get into school and on campus.

Bradley Holtschneider ’18, ’19 earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and a master’s degree in cybersecurity from Saint Leo University. He also earned an MBA with a concentration in IT management from Western Governors University. Today he is a threat hunt platform engineer at Morgan Stanley, where he leads a team responsible for infrastructure deployments, networking, and identity access management. Bradley holds several certifications, including GIAC Machine Learning Engineer, SANS SEC595, and CompTIA Security+601. He enjoys volunteering at the Dawn Hill Fight Foundation’s annual 5K event. Proceeds from the event help to provide financial assistance for people battling pancreatic cancer. Bradley’s most fond memories from his days at Saint Leo are of the time he spent enjoying walks on campus.

Gail Jones ’20,’22 graduated from the University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work. She is a private therapist with the Embracing Changes Center for Wellness in Tampa, FL, providing a comprehensive approach to mental health. Gail belongs to the National Association of Certified Evaluation Analysts, has been recognized as one of the 30 under 30 in her field, and recognized as a 2016 Toastmasters Competent Communicator. In addition to participating in networking events at work, she speaks to students at Saint Leo and participates in job fairs, representing her company. One of her favorite memories from her time at Saint Leo was attending her first Tampa Bay Buccaneers game with a student group.

Ellen “Ellie” Tinnirella ’24 graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and works with Girls Educational & Mentoring Services (GEMS) as a support services coordinator. In her role, she helps support girls and women between the ages of 12-29 who are survivors of trauma. She is very proud of a program she created at work, which focuses on helping GEMS become certified support specialists by the state of New York. She also volunteers at Invisible Hands, in Queens, NY, by helping immigrants with job readiness. Elle became a student at the age of 33, while being married, taking care of two children, and having one on the way! She was nervous but felt completely welcomed by her professors. “I could not have done this without Saint Leo,” she said.

Dr. Ventoure Watkins Jr. ’22 graduated with a doctoral degree in criminal justice from the university. He was raised by a single mother and is the first in his family to receive a doctorate. Today he is the center operations manager for Dedicated Senior Medical Center, a company that provides affordable VIP care for seniors. Ventoure has a strong commitment to his community. He has been a high school football coach, a volunteer for the Special Olympics and the 100 Senior Food Bank, and served as chair of the Saint Leo Tampa Bay Alumni Chapter. He regularly volunteers to speak in low-income communities, sharing his journey and offering guidance and motivation. He also gives back by teaching future criminal justice professionals as an adjunct instructor. Ventoure’s favorite memory of Saint Leo is working with other students, and especially with Dr. Phil Neely and Dr. Joseph Cillo.