Dad, daughter walk together

LCCC graduation features father-daughter duo who finished degrees at the same time through programs

A Lorain father-daughter duo both will graduate and walk May 18 at this year’s Lorain County Community College graduation. Father Jeremy Leyva, 36, will earn a Bachelor’s degree from Ashland University as a part of LCCC’s University Partnership Program. His daughter Daymiah Leyva, 17, a College Credit Plus student, will receive an associate’s degree and high school diploma through Titan College, a partnership between Lorain High School and LCCC. Leyva said that since he already has walked at Ashland University’s graduation ceremony, he originally didn’t want to overshadow Daymiah’s accomplishments by walking with her. After some persuading from his daughter, the two will walk at graduation. “I was her pushing and saying, ‘No I want you to walk with me, Dad. It would be cool to be able to walk with you,’ ” Leyva said. For him, this is his second go-around with LCCC. After graduating from Lorain Southview High School in 2000, Leyva attended Bowling Green State University for a semester before leaving to come home and enroll in LCCC in 2001.

After Daymiah was born in 2001, Leyva said he left LCCC and began working in automotive sales in 2007. “My time there was great, but it just wasn’t what I loved to do,” he said. It wasn’t until he started to volunteer for his daughter’s summer softball team that he found his calling. “Helping (Daymiah) out, helping that team out meant the team didn’t need to win a game,” Leyva said. “... It was being around kids and making a difference through some kids in our community, in our city of Lorain. “It was enough just showing up and showing that you care that means a lot to some kids and got me more in tune to needs in youth in the city of Lorain.” Deciding that he wanted to go back to school and get a degree in education, Leyva started seriously seeking out options with LCCC in 2013. After receiving an associate degree, he became a part of LCCC’s partnership program. Having worked as a paraprofessional with Lorain City Schools during his studies, Leyva said he hopes he can get a job working with students in the city’s school district and has applied for jobs in several school districts. “It would be a blessing and an honor to be able to educate and be an educator at Lorain City Schools,” Leyva said. He said being able to get a degree as a part-time student allowed him to work for Lorain Schools and serve as a head coach for the junior varsity football and baseball teams and assistant coach for the varsity basketball team. Now, Leyva is looking forward to walking with Daymiah after a long journey in education. “Her (wanting to walk with me) then made me feel proud and excited,” he said. “It’s a unique situation. I’m very excited for the opportunity.” Daymiah said that the program through Titan College allowed her to make lasting bonds and experiences that she’ll always have.

COURTESY — JEREMY LEYVA Jeremy Leyva, left, and his daughter Daymiah Leyva will graduate May 18 from Lorain County Community College.