>> Click here to watch the MHS Class of 2021 commencement ceremony and other senior celebration videos
The Marion High School Class of 2021 made an impressive mark on our school and community. As we celebrate their graduation, we've gathered some of their most notable accomplishments. Take a look:
Academics achievements
- 72% of the Class of 2021 graduated with advanced college credits and/or at least one industry certification
- College credits earned: 4,286
- Advanced Placement courses completed by seniors: 248
- More than a dozen members of the Class of 2021 had already earned AP Scholar honors before their senior year! Click here to review the awards reflecting work done in the 2019-20 school year; the Class of 2021 members are those labeled seniors. (The 2020-21 awards will be announced in the coming months.)
- Marion High School has consistently surpassed state, national, and global passing rates for AP exams. Click here to see some of the recent stats.
- Industry certifications earned: 75
- Grant County 2021 Lilly Scholarship winner: Evelyn Detamore
- Indiana Academic All-Star: Leah Hoeksema
- Valedictorian: Crynna Aguila and Leah Hoeksema (tie)
- Salutatorian: Lucia Persinger
3.5 Honorees
The following members of the Class of 2021 earned a grade-point average of 3.5 or above:
- Carynna Aguila
- Theron Bailey
- Jillayne Bass
- Jayda Bell
- Isabelle Bento
- Timothy Bento
- Jalen Blackmon
- Evan Browder
- Soren Bruehler
- Quiana Chasteen
- Johnny Davis
- Katelyn Dessing
- Evelyn Detamore
- Clayton Drook
- Emily Fannin
- Jack Fauser
- Savannah Fry
- Bayley Grieve
- Zariyah Hahn
- Joshua Harris
- Shelby Harrison
- Sianna Hobbs
- Leah Hoeksema
- Annabelle Hoffert
- Jayden Holder
- Abby Holliday
- Raenah Hyde
- Asia Johnson
- Mary Klein
- Elesa Leavell
- Olivia Lindsay
- Tayne Link
- Emma Maki
- Gabriel Martinez
- Aylivia Mellon
- Tyner Metzger
- Alexis Miller
- Reese Millspaugh
- Aaron Mitchener
- Naryah Moton
- Halen Munday
- Brian Nearon
- Kayleina O'Donnell
- Kylee O'Neil
- Vikram Oddiraju
- Bonny Patel
- Lucia Persinger
- Jessica Pickell
- Gurleen Rai
- Desirae Rankins
- Jacie Rayburn
- Alexander Rayment
- Emma Reel
- Reba Rhoten
- Takota Russ
- Skyeane Russell
- Dana Salavaria
- Camille Scales
- Kendall Scales
- Annika Sharlow
- Abdi Steenbergh
- Alexis Steward
- Zoe Stiles
- Jalaia Tebbe-Harper
- Kaitlyn Tu
- Gabriella Vermilion
- Marisa Wallace
- Emma Waterman
- Erin Weatherly
- Chloe Wilkes
- Anna Wuertley
AP Scholar Honors
The following members of the Class of 2021 earned AP Scholar honors from the College Board, reflecting excellence on multiple AP exams over the course of their high school career:
AP Scholars with Distinction
(earning scores of 3 or higher on five or more exams, with an average score of at least 3.5 on all exams taken)
- Soren Bruehler
- Evelyn Detamore
- Leah Hoeksema
- Emma Maki
- Vikram Oddiraju
AP Scholars with Honor
(earning scores of 3 or higher on four or more exams, with an average score of at least 3.25 on all exams taken)
- Carynna Aguila
- Clayton Drook
- Lucia Persinger
- Annika Sharlow
AP Scholars
(earning scores of 3 or higher on three or more exams)
- Isabelle Bento
- Shelby Harrison
- Takota Russ
- Gabriella Vermilion
- Marisa Wallace
>> Click here to read more about the 2020 AP Scholar awards
Arts achievements
Indiana State School Music Association awards
- Marion High School earned ISSMA’s highest honor, the 2021 Total Department All-Music Award!
2021 ISSMA Solo & Ensemble awards earned by Class of 2021 members
- Carynna Aguila, flute solo, Gold rating
- Soren Bruehler, trombone solo, Gold rating, member of trombone quartet that earned Silver rating and brass quartet that earned Silver rating
- Navia Cushingberry, member of saxophone quartet that earned Gold rating, member of vocal ensemble that earned Gold rating
- Evelyn Detamore, vocal solo, Gold rating
- Rain Foreman, member of clarinet trio that earned Silver rating
- Jayden Holder, vocal solo, Gold rating
- Ty Metzger, member of saxophone trio that earned Gold rating
- Cierra Polm, member of two vocal ensembles, both earned Gold rating and Group III vocal senior
- Jacie Rayburn, member of clarinet trio that earned Silver rating, member of vocal ensemble that earned Gold rating
- Alexander Rayment, member of vocal ensemble that earned Gold rating
- Takota Russ, member of saxophone quartet that earned Gold rating
- Jackson Vice, alto saxophone solo, Silver rating, member of a saxophone trio that earned Gold rating, member of a vocal ensemble that earned Gold rating
- Chloe Wilkes, member of saxophone quartet that earned Gold rating
- Je'kwan Williams, member of brass quintet that earned Silver rating
- Anna Wuertley, member of trombone quartet that earned Silver rating
- Emma Maki, member of brass quartet that earned Silver rating
ISSMA group competition awards earned over the Class of 2021's high school career
- Innovations Show Choir: Gold, 2021
- Chamber Choir: Gold, 2020, 2021
- Virtuoso: Gold, 2020, 2021
- Jazz Choir: Gold, 2019, 2020
- Beginning Concert Choir: Gold, 2021
- Choir: Gold, 2018
- Marching Band: Gold, 2020; Silver, 2021
- Symphonic Band: Gold, 2018, 2019, 2021
- Jazz Band: Gold, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
- Wind Ensemble: Gold, 2020, 2021
Show choir competition awards
- Seniors Navia Cushingberry and Jayden Holder earned individual awards with their performances with Innovations at the Midwest Showcase competition
2021 Grant County Honor Band
The following members of the Class of 2021 were selected:
- Carynna Aguila
- Soren Bruehler
- Navia Cushingberry
- Rain Foreman
- Jacie Rayburn
- Takota Russ
- Jackson Vice
- Chloe Wilkes
- Je'kwan Williams
- Anna Wuertley
Scholastic Art Awards
- Bailey Grieve, 1 national Silver Key, 2 regional Gold Keys, 1 regional Gold Key, 1 regional Honorable Mention
- Sianna Hobbs, regional Honorable Mention
>> Click here for more details about Scholastic Art Awards, and to view winning artwork
Congressional Art Competition
- Dana Salavaria earned second runner-up for Indiana’s Fifth Congressional District in this annual competition; her artwork will be displayed in Rep. Victoria Spartz’ district office in Carmel
Activities achievements
JROTC
- Senior Marion High School JROTC Cadet Alysa Yancey earned a spot in the Junior Olympics for marksmanship. She also earned a spot in the Junior Air Rifle Marksmanship National Championship and the Army JROTC Air Rifle Marksmanship National Championship.
- MHS JROTC was recognized for excellence by the Indiana 82nd Airborne Association
- MHS JROTC qualified for the advanced round in the Army JROTC Leadership Bowl and the JROTC Academic Bowl
- The Raider Team earned the title of National Champions in the small school category at the All-Army JROTC Raider National Championship
E-sports
- The Giants earned a state championship in their first year of competition!
Business Professionals of America
- Lucia Persinger, Leah Hoeksema, and Annika Sharlow advanced to the state round of the annual competition
Black History Club
- The annual play was presented online this year due to COVID. Click here to watch this year’s presentation, “African-American History Makers Museum”.
Athletics achievements
Team IHSAA tournament achievements and senior honors:
Baseball
- AJ Mitchner earned All-NCC
Basketball
- Boys basketball achievements:
- Jalen Blackmon earned Indiana All-Star, First Team All-NCC, IBCA Supreme 15, Chronicle-Tribune Player of the Year; he holds the Marion Giants record for career scoring average and led the state this season in average points per game; he also holds the Marion Giants all-time scoring record (previously held by his father, Coach James Blackmon, since 1983)
- Boys basketball player Josh Balfour earned Second Team All-NCC
- Boys basketball player Jermaine Woods earned Second Team All-NCC
- Girls basketball achievements:
- Olivia Aguilar earned First Team All-NCC
Cheerleading
- UCA All-American: Gabriella Vermilion
Cross Country
- Girls team advanced to Regional
- Academic All-State: Carynna Aguila
Football
- Regional champions, advanced to Semi-State
- Khalid Stamps earned All-State and All-NCC
- Tyvon Colemon earned All-State and All-NCC
- Greg Johnson earned All-NCC
- Johnny Davis earned All-NCC, 2019 All-State
- Josh Balfour earned All-NCC
- AJ Mitchner earned 2nd Team All-NCC
Soccer
- Jackson Fagan earned Academic All-State, All-NCC
- Abdi Steenbergh earned Academic All-State
- Malik Smith earned Academic All-State
- Brian Nearon earned Academic All-State
- Kyle Coryea earned All-NCC, 2nd Team ISCA All-District
Softball
- Ky Adkins earned First Team All-NCC
Tennis
- Boys team accomplishments:
- Sectional Champions
- North Central Conference Runner-Up
- Vikram Oddiraju earned IHSTECA Indiana All-Star, Academic All-State, First Team All-NCC, All-District, and Honorable Mention All-State
- Jack Fauser earned IHSTECA Indiana All-Star, First Team All-NCC, All-District, and Honorable Mention All-State
- Soren Bruehler earned Academic All-State
- Clayton Drook earned Academic All-State
- Girls team accomplishments (individual athlete honors have not yet been awarded)
- Sectional Champions (their 38th sectional title, 2nd most in the state!)
- Anna Wuertley earned First Team All-NCC, All-District
Track & Field
- Accomplishments so far - season is still going!
- Zaimar Burnett, Regional Champion in 200 meters and long jump, advanced to State
- Seniors who advanced to Regional:
- Kainen Malone-Johnson, pole vault
- Aden Fisher, pole vault
Volleyball
- Isabelle Bento earned All-NCC
Wrestling
- Team earned program's first NCC Championship
- Je'kwan Williams advanced to State, earned Honorable Mention Academic All-State
- Seniors who advanced to Semi-State
- Kainen Malone-Johnson
- Levi Lee
- Greg Johnson