AJ Wilkins ’26

Whether he was leading on the volleyball court, welcoming prospective families, or serving his community, AJ’s energy and enthusiasm made him a standout member of the Class of 2026.

As captain of the Boys Varsity Volleyball team, member of the VI Man, and a Black & Gold Ambassador, AJ embraced opportunities to lead and connect with others. Volleyball, however, stands out as his favorite PVI memory. Having played since fourth grade, AJ competed all four years on the Boys Volleyball team and helped lead the program in an epic senior season. The team captured its first Independent Schools Boys Volleyball League championship since 2015, and AJ earned First Team All-League honors. 

AJ encourages Panther fans to add Boys Volleyball to their schedule. “The games are very fun and exciting,” he said. “There are a lot of people who come for the first time because their friends told them to, and they say, ‘That was way better than I thought.’ We get hyped. That's our brand: PVI Boys Volleyball is hype.”

Beyond athletics, AJ credits PVI with helping him grow in his faith. “Coming in as a freshman, I was Catholic, but I think I was just going through the motions. The mission trip to Camden, New Jersey really changed me, and I started practicing my faith more. The Junior Retreat also changed me a lot.”

After his Junior Retreat experience, AJ became a Senior Retreat Leader and co-president of Campus Ministry.

“I felt a call to serve — I think that's definitely a big part of the vocation that God has given me,” AJ reflects. “That realization opened my eyes to how I like helping people.”

Academically, AJ completed three years of engineering at PVI, taking courses in engineering design to aerospace engineering. He particularly valued learning how to think through challenges and develop solutions.

“At PVI, I've learned how to activate my brain to think critically, be creative, and solve problems.”

Those problem-solving skills, combined with his desire to serve others, have helped shape AJ’s vision for the future — a path that blends technical expertise with a commitment to helping people in moments of greatest need.

Next year, AJ will attend Rutgers University, where he received an ROTC scholarship. Inspired in part by his grandfather, a Vietnam veteran, and by his teacher and volleyball coach, Mr. Joel Cockrell, a former Army paratrooper, AJ hopes to one day serve as a medevac and rescue pilot flying Black Hawks and Lakotas.

His advice to younger students is simple: “If you really lock in, you can learn a lot. The purpose of high school is to build skills that you can use in the real world. Work hard and be intentional.”