Class of 2016: Blake Sherman, School of Business Valedictorian

Class of 2016: Blake Sherman, School of Business Valedictorian

Blake Sherman

Blake Sherman, a 4.0 GPA business administration major, is the University of San Diego’s 2016 School of Business valedictorian. The Seattle native will be a featured speaker at the May 22 afternoon undergraduate commencement. Quite an accomplishment to be sure but, to Sherman, it's still somewhat surreal.

"I feel honored, but I never expected to be the business student valedictorian," he says. "I knew I was getting good grades in my classes, but I wasn't trying for a 4.0 GPA."

What the 30-year-old transfer student has done though, in many respects, is achieve personal growth. A few years after his 2004 high school graduation, he took a trip to San Diego with some friends and didn't leave. He left Seattle, the home of his family, friends and working at his entrepreneurial father's successful electronics business to move here.

Maybe it was the weather, too, that drew him to San Diego, but he left the nest and used the time to find himself in a city where he had no direct family ties to anyone. Sherman worked for a few years to support himself. For two years, he wasn't interested in going to college. He admits he wasn't a great student in high school.

Eventually, though, he came around. His father, James, is nearing retirement age and wants to travel. His older and only brother, Blair, works with their father at Data Pro International, the family business. Blake knew if he wanted to work there again, he would be welcomed back, but also knew he wanted to get some training.

"When I knew I wanted to do it and get back into the family business, I didn't have the skills I'd want to have so when I went back to school I made that my focus," he said.

He enrolled at San Diego City College (SDCC) in 2010 for one class. He liked it so he took another one. Then a couple more, and so on. Pretty soon, he'd amassed a large number of credits. As his academic interest evolved, so too did his interest in business. When he looked at business schools, he applied to two in the state of Washington and the University of San Diego. He was accepted at USD and arrived for the 2014 spring semester.

By this time, he was working a full-time security job for a prominent downtown San Diego hotel. He attended classes at USD by day, worked afternoon to evening security shifts and did homework late at night.

Sherman's focus on school matured. Perhaps the biggest difference came in two areas — where he sits and what he says in class. He was content to be in the back of the classroom and fly under the radar in high school. At SDCC and USD, he’s had a front row seat and is not shy about asking questions.

At USD, particularly in business courses, he grew accustomed to working in groups and often had a leadership role.

"There's a lot of teamwork in the real world and I've learned to really care about this and to take charge. In the business school, they put us in realistic situations, so I've become a much more effective leader in a team setting. I'm always willing to do a little more," Sherman said.

Sherman values business professors Abigail Berk, Annalisa Barrett, John Hanson and Richard Custin who've been supportive mentors and have made courses such as management, prescriptive business analytics and business law not only manageable, but he has thrived. Outside of his major, Sherman said he gained a greater appreciation for USD’s Catholic education when taking two classes with Jeannie Constantinou, a postdoctoral teaching fellow in Theology and Religious Studies.

While Sherman's stint at USD has been relatively short and, due to work and time commitments has prevented him from getting involved beyond the classroom, being honored as business valedictorian is "flattering." Sherman admitted he was surprised when he was notified of his prestigious designation. Even in the waning days of finals, the self-admitted procrastinator wasn't leaving anything to chance. He was planning a major study session before his remaining final earlier this week.

But it's who he is. Maybe that's what he needed to find out.

"I never missed any classes, I got some work experience and I was in a routine. I came to San Diego by myself. I didn't have any family here. I didn't know anyone. I wasn't doing this for anyone but myself."

His appreciation for academics is commendable. His dedication to return to school and earn a degree is something he can always point to with pride. When he addresses USD's Class of 2016 undergraduate business and engineering students on Sunday, he will have an important story to share.

Sherman's story will continue, too. Soon after his speech is over and he's walked across the Jenny Craig Pavilion stage to receive his degree, he's heading back to Seattle. He recently flew there to finalize the purchase of a house. He's going to move back, work in the family business and put his business administration degree to good use. He’ll be surrounded by family as well as a few high school friends who are now employed at the company.

But when he goes back to Seattle, "my first home," Sherman said, he won’t forget what he’s left behind. "Leaving San Diego is bittersweet,” he said, knowing that he’s done pretty well in his own home away from home.

— Ryan T. Blystone