A Remarkable Legacy: Frank Ladner's Name to Adorn PRCC's Hancock Campus Building

Laura O'Neill- PRCC Marketing

POPLARVILLE, Miss. — Long-time Pearl River Community College Board of Trustees board member Frank Ladner is being recognized for his years of service with his name on the new Hancock Campus building. A rendering of the building with his name on it was unveiled at the October Board of Trustees meeting, with the dedication expected to occur in the spring of 2024.

“Mr. Frank’s impact and contributions to our college are immeasurable,” said PRCC President Dr. Adam Breerwood. “For over 31 years, he has worked diligently to promote our efforts and build our college. With this dedication, his name will be cemented into the legacy of our college. He is most deserving of this recognition.”

Ladner is entrenched in the Bay St. Louis community, including a thirty-year professional career at Bay High School. During his tenure at the high school, he served in several roles, from shop teacher to guidance counselor, and in his final stretch, the principal.

Ladner represents Hancock County on the PRCC Board of Trustees. He has served on the board since April 1992, taking his turn as board Vice President and President. His memorable achievements include the collaborative work on bringing the Rodeo and Volleyball programs to Pearl River.

“I was both surprised and honored to receive this recognition and still don’t know if I deserve it,” said Ladner. “We work together as a team on the board. Nobody can do it by themselves. The new Hancock Campus will be one of a kind. The drone program, hydrography, and aviation mechanics program that starts this coming year will have students have a job waiting when they graduate.”

ABOUT THE NEW HANCOCK CAMPUS Situated near Stennis International Airport, Hancock High School, and the Stennis Space Center Buffer Zone, the Aviation and Aerospace Workforce Academy is set to become a reality thanks to funding from the Department of Economic Development Administration, Gulf Coast Restoration Funds, the BP RESTORE Act grant, and local investments. Located on Fred and Al Key Road in Hancock County, this expansive 25,000-square-foot facility signifies PRCC's expanded presence. It boasts eight classrooms, five labs, a reception area, faculty and staff offices, a staff break room/kitchenette, an indoor student sitting/vending area, and an outdoor courtyard.

Complementing this is an 18,000-square-foot hangar, which commenced operations in August 2023. It features three classrooms with labs, an open hangar area with hands-on lab stations, an outdoor covered space for equipment training, a lobby with a reception area, and faculty and staff offices.

The Academy is dedicated to providing state-of-the-art learning spaces, combining computer-enhanced classrooms with adjacent hands-on labs, preparing students to operate and maintain equipment for the future. The classrooms and labs are adaptable to accommodate the evolving needs of local businesses and industries.

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