Melissa Rhiannon Albrecht
2011 CHS Graduate
of Port O’Connor, Texas
Daughter of George and Debbie Albrecht; Granddaughter of Verna Prebilske, Melissa graduates as a Texas Scholar.
While attending CHS, Melissa excelled in art, receiving the Outstanding Artist of the Year Award her Junior year, placing in VASE Competition, two Calhoun County TXDOT Art Awards; her Senior year placing 3rd in State level, resulting in her artwork being featured in TXDOT’s 2012 calendar. Melissa also won several Grand Champion ribbons over the years for artwork entered in the Calhoun County Fair.
During her school years, she participated in 4-H, Adopt-A-Beach Clean Up, Cemetery clean ups, volunteered at the Calhoun County Animal Shelter, and was a member of CHS Art Club.
Melissa is very pleased to have received scholarships from the POC Service Club, Port O’Connor Chamber of Commerce, and the Naomi Albrecht Scholarship. Thank you all so much!
Melissa plans to study Animal Biology while attending Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi, Texas.
When asked about life and wisdom, she said her favorite quote is: “Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away!”
Caitlynn Paige Davenport
2011CHS Graduate
Age 17; Daughter of Glen and Kim Davenport of Seadrift
Sisters: Heather (Casey) and Tabatha (James); Brother: Jonathan (Tonya); 5 Nieces: Madison, Taylor, Mia, Ava, Saige; 1 Nephew: Layton
Hobbies: Cheerleading, Volleyball, hanging out with friends. Caitlynn was a Calhoun Cheerleader one year as J.V. and two years as Varsity.
Caitlynn graduates as a Texas Scholar and Honor Graduate. She was blessed to receive five wonderful scholarships: Christopher Ragusin POC Grand Slam; Sportsman Scholarship; Calhoun County Texas Scholars; Seadrift Chamber of Commerce; CHS Cheerleaders.
She will continue her education at Victoria College, then transfer to Texas State or A&M.
Favorite quote: “Live life with no regrets.”
Samantha Lauren Estrada
2011 Hope High School Graduate
Daughter of Edward and Esmeralda of Seadrift; FiancMartin Banda; Daughter, Layla Banda
Lauren’s plans include attending Victoria College to become a pediatrician, and one day to work for St. Jude’s or Driscolls.
Trevor Finster
2011 CHS Graduate
Son of Kenneth and Dwana Finster of Seadrift
Trevor’s involvements and accomplishments include: Sports Medicine, Student Council, Environmental Club, Photography Club, Medical Club, Theatre, Debate, UIL, Interact, DOW Community Advisory Panel, Sports Medicine All Star, Athletic Trainer of the Year, Texas Scholar, Blood Bank Donor, Lutherhill Staff Member.
Trevor plans to attend Victoria College and transfer to Texas Lutheran University to pursue a degree in Youth Ministry.
Natalie Harper
2011 CHS Graduate
Daughter of George and Marie Harper of Port O’Connor
Natalie grew up in Port O’Connor, but also lived in New Orleans and Seal Beach, CA. She participated in sports, mainly basketball and track, receiving many awards. She was a member of 4-H for eight years, raising rabbits five of those years.
Natalie received six scholarships and is graduating with honors. She plans to attend Texas State University, majoring in Criminal Justice. We are so proud of her accomplishments! She is currently employed by Speedy Stop in POC.
Bill Satterfield
2011 Graduate of Victoria College
Associate of Applied Science – Business Management
“We are very proud of you and love you very much.” -Melissa, Jerry and Paige
Ted Sonnier
2011 Graduate of Yale University
Port O’Connor native, Ted Sonnier, graduated from Yale University on May 23, 2011 with a master’s degree in trombone performance at the Yale School of Music in New Haven, CT. There, he studied trombone under the world renown trombone soloist, Scott Hartman, and performed in the esteemed Yale Philharmonia. An ensemble comprised of highly talented graduate-level musicians from around the world, the Philharmonia is one of America’s, and indeed the world’s, finest student orchestras. A prominent member of the ensemble, Ted performed concerts on three separate occasions in the famous Carnegie Hall of New York City as part of the “Yale in New York” concert series, performing under the batons of world-renown Polish composer and conductor, Krzysztof Penderecki, and Dutch conductor, Reinbert de Leeuw. The New York Times called the performance of Olivier Messiaen’s Turangalîla Symphonie conducted by de Leeuw “sensational” and “solidly and precisely executed.” Ted was also a member of a brass consort that performed as part of the celebration concert of the 40th anniversary of the Oral History of American Music project, a project dedicated to archiving interviews with prominent composers in the American music tradition, performing works by Aaron Copland and Charles Ives, also a Yale graduate. As part of the Philharmonia, Ted performed bi-weekly in the ambitious New Music New Haven concert series dedicated to the commission and performance of new works by young composers, as well as performing standard orchestral literature under the direction of South Korean artistic director, Shinik Hahm. During his time at Yale, Ted branched out, learning how to play an early form of the trombone called the sackbut in the Yale Sackbut and Cornetto Ensemble, as well as performing in chamber ensembles such as the brass quintet and trombone quartet. Ted also performed recitals as part of his degree requirements wherein he performed standard solos and concertos, including famous trombonist, Christian Lindberg’s bombastic Mandrake in the Corner duet with young international trombone star, Achilles Liarmakopolous, and the softer more reflective arrangement of John Coltrane’s After the Rain.
Before his time at Yale, Ted completed his bachelor’s of music degree in trombone performance from Oklahoma State University under trombone professor Paul Compton in the Spring of 2008. While there he was a member of the OSU Trombone Octet that won the 2008 International Trombone Association’s Remington Competition and the 2008 Down Beat Student Award for Outstanding Classical Ensemble. Ted won the 2007-2008 OSU Concerto Competition, performing Christopher Rouse’s Pulitzer Prize winning Trombone Concerto, dedicated to the memory of famed New York Philharmonic conductor and composer, Leonard Bernstein. At the time, Ted was the youngest person to ever perform the incredibly difficult work. In 2007, Ted was the sole winner of the Down Beat Magazine Student Music Award for Outstanding College Classical Soloist. He was also a finalist in the 2008 Big 12 Area Trombone Conference Solo Competition and he has previously received an honorable mention in the International Trombone Association’s Larry Wiehe Competition. Ted spent three summers performing in the Music School Festival Orchestra in residence at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, NY.
Ted has returned to slower-paced Oklahoma to spend time practicing and preparing for auditions to orchestras all over the country. In his spare time, he enjoys reading anything he can get his hands on, especially books on American history, economics, and the theory of liberty. He also enjoys following the candidacy of congressman Dr. Ron Paul for president. Ted is a 2003 graduate of Calhoun High School and is the son of Tucker and Kim Sonnier of Port O’Connor.
Clint Alan Williams
2011 CHS Graduate
Parents: Larry & Shona Williams of Port O’Connor
Grandparents: Larry & Shirley Williams
Clint participated in Track and Choir. He received the American Red Cross “Red Cord Award” and Texas Scholar Award.
Clint has enlisted in the United States Air Force.
John Wirt
2011 Graduate of Goliad High – Valedictorian
John “Buster” Wirt, son of George Wirt of Goliad, and Deborah Wirt of Port O’Connor, graduated as Valedictorian, Goliad High School class of 2011, on June 3rd. Buster attended Port O’Connor Elementary in 1st through 6th grades. He was valedictorian of the eighth grade class, Goliad ISD, in 2007. John actively participated in athletics and academics at Goliad. A few of his accomplishments include being an officer in the National Honor Society, DAR Good Citizen Award, National Scholar Athlete attending the GOLD Youth Leadership Seminar, Goliad Football Team Defensive MVP, Football 2nd Team All-District Defense, Football Academic 1st Team All-State, TASSP Academic All-State Team which recognizes him as one of the top twenty scholars in the state, the University Interscholastic League Scholar Award, and the Goliad Education Foundation Shining Star Award. John is graduating with a GPA of 5.34 and 18 college credits. In the fall he will attend Texas A&M Corpus Christi, from which he received the President’s Scholarship.
John completed first through sixth grades at Port O’Connor Elementary School. He and his family credit the outstanding education he received here as the foundation for his academic success. Much gratitude goes to his teachers—Judy Anderson, Paula McCauley, Sherry Gregory, Linda Gosnell, Dawn Lane, and Belinda Tigrett, and to Marilyn Bratcher and Lydia Strakos, who served as principals during his years at POC Elementary.
