12 FALL 18 Spirit Magazine
A family finds their home at Saint Leo
The U.S. Air Force brought the Blackman family to Florida,
but Saint Leo University provided a home away from home
for them. For Derrick and Kimberly Blackman and their son
Elijah, Saint Leo offered the opportunity to study together,
lean on each other, and cheer for each other—in the classroom
and on the basketball court.
The family moved to Tampa from Colorado in 2000
when Derrick Blackman was transferred to MacDill Air
Force Base. While on active duty with the Air Force, Derrick
took a class at Saint Leo and enjoyed it. From there, it
was on to pursuing a degree.
Derrick graduated from Saint Leo in 2015 with a bachelor’s
degree in religion. Next up was Elijah, who enrolled
after Saint Leo representatives visited Wesley Chapel (FL)
High School during his senior year there. It took a little
while longer for Kimberly. “About two years later, my husband
encouraged me to enroll,” she said. “He said, ‘You’ve
already got your associate degree, and Saint Leo is an
awesome institution for getting a quality education.’ And it
was great! I’m so grateful.”
Not only did Derrick encourage Kimberly, but he also
pursued a master’s degree in theology. In 2017, the Blackmans
graduated with Kimberly and Elijah receiving their
diplomas together at the Saint Leo WorldWide commencement.
Derrick received his master’s degree the next day
during the morning graduate program commencement,
where he also performed the national anthem.
“It was a great honor and privilege to be able to graduate
the same year,” Derrick said. “It was even greater for
me as husband and father to witness both my wife and son
graduate from Saint Leo at the same time. The experience
was extremely humbling.”
Now, Derrick teaches at Saint Leo as an adjunct faculty
member in the Department of Philosophy, Religion,
and Theology.
Kimberly graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts
degree in sociology and now is working toward a master’s
in human services administration at Saint Leo.
Elijah, who played basketball for the Lions and served
as a University Ministry Mentor, earned his Bachelor of Arts
degree in sport business. After completing an internship at
the University of South Carolina, he now is a graduate assistant
for sports strength and conditioning at the University
of Arkansas.
Graduating from Saint Leo with his parents made an
impression on Elijah. “I thought it was incredible to be able
to sit next to my mom during graduation and see my dad
walk across the very same stage less than 24 hours later,”
he said. “Graduating at the same time as your parents
doesn’t happen too often.”
Derrick and Kimberly’s other son, Donovan, graduated
from aviation school in 2015 and is working in Arizona.
And while they tried to persuade daughter Kandice to
attend Saint Leo, she did not want to attend college with
her parents and brother. She is enrolled Trinity College of
Florida in New Port Richey.
From the Top: Mother and son, Kimberly and Elijah Blackman,
received their degrees together at the Saint Leo WorldWide
commencement in 2017; Father Derrick Blackman, not only
received his master’s degree, but he also sang the national
anthem at the graduate program commencement the next day;
Elijah Blackman served as a University Ministry Mentor and
distributed ashes on Ash Wednesday.