Marley Bufkin named Porter’s Chapel Academy Class of 2025 Valedictorian

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Marley Bufkin has been named the valedictorian of the Porter’s Chapel Academy Class of 2025, earning the prestigious title after officially ranking No. 1 in her graduating class.

“I’m honored and proud that all of my hard work has paid off,” Bufkin said. “I put in a lot of work to get to where I am today.”

Bufkin completed her high school journey Saturday during a graduation ceremony held at First Baptist Church. She graduated with a 4.56 GPA.

From a young age, Bufkin consistently maintained strong academic performance, motivated by the expectations of those closest to her.

“I’ve taken my grades seriously my whole life,” she said. “I’ve been really competitive because my parents were hard on me about it—I was expected to make straight A’s.”

Bufkin’s pursuit of academic excellence began in eighth grade, when she started taking dual-credit classes and began earning top average awards in her class. She earned 21 college credits while still enrolled at PCA.

In addition to her academic achievements, Bufkin excelled athletically. She was selected to play in the MAIS All-Star Softball Game and was named The Vicksburg Daily News’ Softball Player of the Year.

During her valedictorian speech, Bufkin expressed gratitude to her parents, her faith, and shared a lighthearted memory of her childhood friend, Sophie Masterson, ripping her pants in second grade.

“To my mom, you are the reason I’m standing here today,” Bufkin said during her speech. “You encouraged me when I wanted to give up, challenged me when I looked for the easy way out, and believed in me even when I doubted myself. And to my dad—thank you for always pushing me, and for throwing the softball with me in the yard, even when I didn’t feel like it. You’ve taught me discipline, drive, and resilience. Thank you for showing me how to work hard and keep going, even when life gets tough.”