Facebook Instagram Linkedin

Porter-Billups Leadership ACADEMY

PBLA’s vision is to be a pivotal support system that nurtures the vision of younger leaders to dream big and achieve their goals. 

In 1996, Regis University Men’s Head Basketball Coach Lonnie Porter and his daughter Staci Porter-Bentley established the Lonnie Porter Leadership Academy to provide academic and leadership training to students in underserved communities in Denver.

In 2006, NBA star Chauncey Billups joined forces with Coach Porter in this effort and the program was renamed the Porter-Billups Leadership Academy at Regis University.

Billups and Porter grew up in inner city neighborhoods. They credit their success to the people who challenged them at a young age to work hard and get an education. The Academy is a way for them to support youth in the way that others supported them.

As Regis University’s flagship college prep program, scholarships up to full tuition to Regis are available to PBLA graduates once they successfully complete the multi-year participation requirement and qualify financially and academically for admittance. PBLA’s vision is to be a pivotal support system that nurtures the vision of young leaders to dream big and achieve their goals by offering a variety of relevant academic experiences. These include instruction in leadership, social justice, the arts, engineering, financial literacy, robotics and so much more. Providing students with ongoing exposure to a college campus each summer allows them to gain the confidence they need to apply for and attend college in the future.

PBLA founders Coach Lonnie Porter, Staci Porter and Chauncey Billups pose for a photo
Lonnie porter, staci porter-bentley, chauncey billups

OUR STUDENTS

220

220 students from grades 3rd-12th are served each summer at Regis University.
220 students from grades 3rd-12th are served each summer at Regis University.

271

271 students have graduated from the PBLA program.
271 students have graduated from the PBLA program

99.9%

99.9% high school graduation rate for PBLA students.
Since 2002, 99.9% of PBLA students have graduated high school. This is compared to the 79% rate of DPS.

87%

87% of students have attended or are currently attending college.
87% of students have attended or are currently attending college.

93

93 students have attended Regis University with 42 graduates to date.
93 students have attended Regis University with 42 graduates to date. 23 PBLA Alum are currently enrolled at Regis for the 2024/2025 school year.

45%

45% of the college bound students who are eligible have graduated.
45% of the college bound students who are eligible have graduated.

CURRENT ENROLLMENT

PBLA 2024 Academy Student Gender

Chart depicting 220 students who are enrolled in PBLA

PBLA 2024 Academy Ethnicity

LatinX 43%
Black 35%
Multiracial
Multiracial 15%
White
White 5%
Other
Other 1%
Asian
Asian 1%

OUR STUDENTS

220

220 students from grades 3rd-12th are served each summer at Regis University.

271

271 students have graduated from the PBLA program

99.9%

99.9% on time high school graduation rate (DPS rate is 79%).

87%

87% of students have attended or are currently attending college.

93

93 students have attended Regis University with 42 graduates to date. 23 PBLA Alum are currently enrolled at Regis for the 2024/2025 school year.

45%

45% of the college bound students who are eligible have graduated.

Current Enrollment

PBLA 2024 Academy Student Gender

Chart depicting 220 students who are enrolled in PBLA

PBLA 2024 Academy Ethnicity

VALUES

Perservere, Believe, Lead, Advocate

Perservere through adversity

Believe in yourself

Lead by example

Advocate for yourself and your community 

“To give deserving students a hand up, not a hand out.” – Coach Porter

“The potential for greatness lives within all of us.” 

“Walk in your greatness” – Coach Patton

“Because someone did it for me.” – Coach Porter

“As it’s been given to you, it’s your responsibility to pour back into others.” – Chauncey Billups

Preparing young leaders for the future

PBLA LEADERSHIP TEAM

Headshot of Chauncey Billups
NBA Hall-of-Famer and Denver native Chauncey Billups announced his involvement and support of the Leadership Academy on March 1, 2006. Billups graduated in 1995 from George Washington High School in Denver, where he led the Patriots to two state high school basketball championships.
READ MORE
Headshot of Coach Ricardo Patton
Ricardo Patton is a seasoned basketball coach with a proven track record of success in developing players who have gone on to compete professionally in the NBA and Europe, including our very own Chauncey Billups and Jamal Mosley- Orlando Magic Head basketball Coach. Ricardo was inducted into Belmont University’s basketball hall of fame.
READ MORE
headshot of Coach Lonnie Porter
Former Regis Men’s Head Basketball Coach Lonnie Porter is Founder Emeritus of the Porter-Billups Leadership Academy. Coach Porter’s award list is vast and varied and includes the National Association of Basketball Coaches Merit Award in 1990 and the Colorado Athletic Conference Coach of the Year awards in 1993-94, 1994-95 and 1995-96.
READ MORE

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Jennifer CLARK

Administrative Manager

Leslie BONATO

Grant Writer

MEGAN WAYNe

Advisory Board Members

Dan Baker
Thomas Bannigan
Dr. Eric Barker
Peter Bentley
Piper Billups
Ken Carlson

Bob Clark
Kelly Condon
Bill Fortune
Dr. Mike Gerber
Chad Glauser
Wanda Harris

Don & Laurie Hicks
Tony Jones
Brian Kennedy
David Kubik
Carrie Langgard
Aaron Leatherwood

Michelle Leatherwood
Randy Miller
Mitch Morrissey
David Roth
Dwayne Ruffin
Dr. Bob Sancetta

Dr. Mitch Seemann
Jordan Sherrill
Paul Sherrill
Debbie Trujillo
Sean Tynan
Bob Willis

PBLA Associate Board

Lauren Appleby
Emily Bennett
Terry Carter-Davis
Jennifer Condon
Trey Cousin

Jordan Drummond
Beatriz Esparza
Alex Fullerton
Banafsheh Lari
John McEwen

Ben Nurney
Olivia Patrick
Cameron Powell
Alexcia Rodriguez
Alonzo Smith

Lauren Sparks
Taven Sparks
Rebecca Stout
Kelsey Tordjman

Nicole Trujillo
Madison Whitley

Group photo of the PBLA board members

Join the PBLA Mailing List

Facebook Instagram Linkedin

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

CHAUNCEY BILLUPS

Billups attended the University of Colorado. In his 55 games at CU, Billups averaged 18.5 points per game, 5.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. Billups was drafted by the Boston Celtics as the third player taken in the 1997 NBA draft. In 2004, Billups, then with the Detroit Pistons, was named the NBA Finals MVP, only the second player in NBA history to receive the MVP award before being selected to the NBA All-Star game. In 2007, he hosted 10 youngsters excelling in the PBLA to a Pistons home game, as well as a trip to the Charles H. Wright African American Museum and Motown Museum. Billups joined the Denver Nuggets in 2008, leading them to the NBA Western Conference Finals in his first year. Billups was the 2007-2008 recipient of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award and won the 2008-2009 NBA Sportsmanship Award. He also played on Team USA which won the 2010 FIBA World Championship. He was a member of the Los Angeles Clippers from the 2011-2013 season and retired from the Detroit Pistons at the end of the 2013-2014 season. He now serves as Head Coach of the Portland Trailblazers. Chauncey and his wife Piper have three children: Cydney, Ciara, and Cenaiya. Billups continues to make a positive difference, be a powerful role model and an extraordinary leader in the Denver community.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Ricardo Patton

In his role as a Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Northern Illinois University and the University of Colorado, he led teams to multiple NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament appearances and achieved 184 career wins, ranking second in all-time career wins at the University of Colorado. His coaching philosophy revolved around emphasizing fundamentals, implementing proven strategies, and fostering a culture of excellence both on and off the court. With extensive experience spanning various prestigious institutions, including Vanderbilt University and Denver University, he has amassed a wealth of knowledge and expertise in coaching and community outreach.

Coach Patton’s community outreach is evident through initiatives such as creating Junior Basketball Clubs, organizing youth summer camps, and spearheading youth reading programs. Coach Ricardo Patton’s childhood experiences, community involvement and coaching excellence will be a tremendous asset in mentoring PBLA students and alum as our newest Executive Director.

FOUNDER EMERITUS

Lonnie Porter

He has also received numerous honors away from his sport. In 1995, Coach Porter was named “Man of the Year” by the Regis student body and was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. Coach Porter is widely recognized in the Denver area for leadership in community service and had a vision of creating a leadership academy to further serve the youth of the community beyond the school year. Coach Porter’s vision became a reality in 1996. In May 2015, Regis University President Rev. John Fitzgibbons, S.J., awarded an honorary doctorate to Coach Porter, citing his commitment of giving hope and opportunity for a college education to a new generation of young people. Coach Porter is sincere in his commitment to the community in which he lives. “Serving the community is a humbling experience,” said Coach Porter. “It helps me to realize how blessed I’ve been in my life. There is a tremendous need for us to use our talents to better the lives of those who may not be as fortunate as we are.” In 2022, he was inducted into the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Hall of Fame.