Porters Chapel graduates 23 in Class of 2015

Published 12:06 am Sunday, May 10, 2015

GOODBYE HUG: PCA headmaster Pam Wilbanks hugs a graduating senior Saturday during the commencement ceremony at City Auditorium. (Justin Sellers/The Vicksburg Post)

GOODBYE HUG: PCA headmaster Pam Wilbanks hugs a graduating senior Saturday during the commencement ceremony at City Auditorium.

Saturday was the end of another chapter for 23 young adults.

The 23 students are collectively known as Porters Chapel Academy class of 2015, and as of Saturday afternoon, they comprised the school’s newest group of alumni.

The graduation was held at City Auditorium, and the graduation address was given by Hank McDevitt, a 1976 PCA alumnus and U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center deputy to the commander.

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The graduating class reported earning $666,702 in scholarship awards and volunteering for 1,806 hours of service.

At the end of the ceremony, PCA Headmaster Pam Wilbanks addressed the class to tell them how proud of them she was and offer a bit of advice.

“Probably everyone in this room will agree, the biggest surprise you’re about to have is how much smarter your parents are going to get in the next five or six years than they’ve been the past five or six years,” she said.

Judging from the crowd’s response, they may have enjoyed that advice more than the graduates.

Valedictorian Jordan Locke had not only the highest grade point average at 4.0, but he also had the most service hours at 441 and the most scholarship awards at more than $400,000.

Jordan’s father, Leonard Locke Jr., said his son, who plans to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy Prep School, is modest and exemplary.

“Twenty-five years ago, almost to the day, my aspirations were to go to the Air Force Academy, but my eyes kept me out and I had to settle for West Point,” he said. “Unfortunately I got offered a car and some other pressure to come back home and go to State.”

Locke said he has vowed to his son that he will succeed in making his dream come true.

“Not only that, but he will also become a pilot,” he said. “He’s living my dream.”

Adele York, another graduate, plans to attend East Mississippi Community College where she’ll study on a pre-med track to eventually become a doctor.

“It’s really bittersweet,” she said. “I’m happy, but I’m sad.”

York said she’ll miss her friends but she’s looking forward to the future.

“I’m going to miss all of my friends a lot,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of great memories together, and we’re all going our separate ways so it’s kind of sad. At the same time it’s happy because it’s a new chapter.”

Graduate Joshua Daffron said it feels amazing to graduate and he’s ready to go on to the next level.

“I’m ready for the next chapter in my life,” he said.

Daffron said he plans to call his friends all the time to see what they’re up to and keep in touch.

“I’m going to miss all of them, friends, family, teachers,” he said.

Daffron plans to attend East Central Community College or Delta State University to play baseball.

Longtime PCA student and now graduate Samantha Hawn is planning to attend Delta State University where she will major in English education and hopefully be the mascot.

“This is one of the happiest days of my life,” she said. “Twelve years I’ve been at Porters Chapel, and coming to an end is pretty bittersweet, but I’m ready to start a new chapter.”

Hawn said she will miss her friends.

“I’m happy it’s over and I’m ready to leave Vicksburg, but at the same time I’m going to miss my friends and the memories I’ve had here,” she said. “Most of them are going to be close to home, so I’ll be able to see them when I visit.”