By Elijah Penn, Editor-in-Chief
The local Pasco County Fire Rescue ladder truck at Station 27, which serves the St. Leo and San Antonio communities, now has a new emblem showing off the school spirit of Saint Leo University.
Toward the end of the Spring 2026 semester, the plan by Saint Leo Student Government Union (SGU) first-year Senator Vincent Farides came to fortition.
Farides, a freshman political science major and son of a Pasco County Fire Rescue Captain, noticed that some large universities across the state had their logos on the fire engine which serviced the university area. At the time, this was not true of Saint Leo.
Farides emailed his idea to a local fire Chief, and a logo featuring the Saint Leo Lions was drafted. The idea was brought up in a Pasco Fire Rescue meeting, where it was approved by the department.
In mid-April, the logo was proudly displayed on the side of the ladder truck, showing Pasco County’s pride for the accomplishment of its Saint Leo Lions.
Farides and SGU Vice-President of Operations, Jacob Alexander, toured Station 27 to see the truck in person and learn from the firefighters about their important jobs.
The two presented a framed copy of an SGU Senate passed resolution thanking the Fire Department for collaborating with SGU and funding the process.
“It was surreal to see what has started as a fun idea of mine become a reality. It was also great being able to go for a ride in the truck as well,” said Farides.
While the new emblem shows off the community’s school spirit, it does more than brag on the university. It shows the university’s commitment to bettering the community around it and serving beyond the campus boundaries.
“I thought it would be a good opportunity for our university to be more present in the local community and show our support for Pasco’s Firefighters,” said Farides.
“It shows Saint Leo’s commitment to making an impact in surrounding communities and having a positive effect on our area,” Farides added.
This successful plan also had a personal impact on the freshman student. It gave him confidence as an aspiring political leader to continue to make a difference in his community.
“It means a lot to me as it is my first project as an SGU Senator to have a tangible impact on the local community,” said Farides. “It has given me more confidence to pursue projects with the local government and outside entities to make a broader impact on Pasco County.”
