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News for Marion High School

Annual banquet will recognize MHS JROTC cadets’ achievements

Posted: May 02, 2018 by Patricia Gibson, Communications Director

On Friday, May 4, 400 friends, family members, and others will gather in the cafeteria of Marion High School to honor the JROTC cadets at the annual formal banquet

The banquet will recognize the individual and collective accomplishments of the cadets throughout this school year. Representatives from numerous social and fraternal organizations such as the American Legion, American Veterans (AMVETS), Daughters of the American Revolution, military branch recruiters, and others will be on hand to present 73 separate awards recognizing academic excellence, leadership development, and physical fitness.

In addition to the awards presentation, the cadet leadership will be announced and an official change of command ceremony will transition the cadet leadership.

The banquet, planned by the cadets under the supervision of their instructors, will feature the pageantry of a military ball. As cadets and guests enter the cafeteria they will proceed through an official receiving line and pass under a saber arch. The cadets will wear their dress uniforms for this final event of the school year. The receiving line opens at 6 p.m., and the ceremony will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 4, in the MHS cafeteria (enter Door 4).

“During the banquet, we deliberately take the time to pause and ceremoniously remember the great accomplishments the cadets have achieved throughout the year,” said Lt. Col. David Farlow, the Senior Army Instructor. “These cadets have grown, matured and developed over the course of the year. At the Banquet, we show them off to the family members, friends and community members. It is truly a great experience for all who attend.”

Giants dominate Midwest regional competition

Posted: May 02, 2018 by Patricia Gibson, Communications Director

Blood, sweat and tears were on display Saturday at the Marion High School athletic complex as seventeen JROTC Raider Teams from across the Midwest gathered for the annual competition. The Giants sought to continue their five-year undefeated winning streak while taking on teams from Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. At the end of the day, no other team came close to defeating the Marion Raider team.

Marion High School JROTC cadets carry a 120-pound litter while competing at the annual MHS Raider Challenge on April 28. The Giants easily defeated 16 other teams from across the Midwest to win the competition.

Battling it out in 10 different events, the Giants nearly swept the competition by earning nine first-place finishes, easily taking first place overall in the competition. The Giant’s varsity team sweep of all the competitive events was only prevented by their own junior varsity team taking a first place spot in one event.

“We did fantastic! We crushed the entire competition,” said MHS senior Thomas Schenck, the Giants’ Raider Team Commander. “We really trained hard for this competition. Everyone knew what was at stake and the need to win on our home field. I am so proud of how we performed together. I could not have asked for a better team to lead.”

Raider competitions are grueling and designed to push cadets to their physical limits while challenging their ability to work as a team. Unlike a basketball or football game that last for about an hour, Raider competitions go on for five to six hours, requiring cadets to complete multiple events back to back. The co-ed teams run multiple miles with heavy backpacks, construct and traverse one-rope bridges, climb obstacles, carry rescue litters, and complete other physically challenging events. At the end of the competition, the cadets are exhausted.

“I think the record of our performance this year testifies that we are in fact the best Raider team in the Midwest,” said retired Lt. Col. David Farlow, the Raider team coach and the JROTC program senior Army instructor. “We are the Indiana state champions. At the national championship, our girls team finished seventh, and our boys team 10th. And we just soundly defeated other teams within our region. It is a credit to our great cadet Raiders.”

MHS JROTC varsity Raider team members carry fellow cadets during the buddy carry event at the annual MHS Raider Challenge.

Several members of the winning Giants team are graduating seniors. Adriana Aleman, one of those seniors, talked about what the win at home in their final competition meant.

“Everything built up to this moment,” she said. “To decisively win at home in my last Raider competition ever is a great way to leave as a senior.”

Fellow senior Joseph O’Donnell reflected on their four years on the Raider team.

“There are no words to express what it was like to be a Raider over the past four years,” he said. “We have continued to get better and better. So this final win at home is very special.”

MHS JROTC cadets Juan Rodriguez and Audrey Dickerson run with heavy tires during the MHS Raider Challenge.

YOU can help the Marching Giants get new uniforms!

Posted: Apr 30, 2018 by Patricia Gibson, Communications Director

The Marion High School Marching Giants are grateful for the efforts and assistance of the Marion High School Alumni Association, which was recently awarded a $20,000 matching grant from the Community Foundation of Grant County.

Funds will help pay for new marching band uniforms, a much-needed update for Grant County's only competitive marching band. The uniforms currently in use are 15 years old, and not only are they showing wear and tear, but there are too few to accommodate the continued growth of the band.

The matching grant fundraising period runs through mid-June.

Here is a look at the new uniforms:

Marion Community Schools has committed to pay about half the cost of the new uniforms ($25,000). MHSAA has stepped up to help raise the rest, and this matching grant opportunity is key to making that happen!

If you would like to contribute, you have several options.

Donate directly to the Community Foundation (click here)
Give to the Marion High School Alumni Association (call 765-506-7604 for more information)
Contribute to the Marching Giants as a 2018 sponsor (advertising options are available - email jhuff@marion.k12.in.us for more information)

To learn more about the Marion High School Alumni Association and how you can join, check out mhsalum.com.

MHS senior named Indiana Academic All-Star, top 40 students in state

Posted: Apr 30, 2018 by Patricia Gibson, Communications Director

For the second year in a row, a Marion High School senior has been named an Indiana Academic All-Star, an honor earned by only 40 high school seniors in the state.

Elizabeth Wuertley is planning to attend Northwestern University, where she plans to study pre-med and prepare for a career as a pediatrician. She was honored with the other All-Stars at a luncheon Friday in Indianapolis.

The Academic All-Stars were chosen from a field of 275 outstanding nominees from public and private schools around the state. The distinction recognizes seniors who excel in the classroom first and foremost, but who also are actively involved in their schools and communities, and take on leadership roles in those activities. The program is produced by the Indiana Association of School Principals, with support provided by Indiana University, and Purdue University, along with corporate partners Herff Jones, IndyStar.com, and Inter-State Studio and Publishing Co.

The IASP Indiana Academic All-Stars program salutes academic excellence in the same manner that student athletes traditionally are honored. By providing a showcase for academically talented seniors, the sponsoring organizations hope to accomplish the following objectives:

Give academic achievement the prestige it deserves.
Motivate students to recognize the value of academic excellence.
Provide students with an incentive for academic achievement.
Promote a positive image of Indiana’s young people.

Each public and private high school accredited by the Indiana Department of Education may nominate one senior for consideration as an Indiana Academic All-Star. From these nominees, a selection committee chose the 40 Indiana Academic All-Stars, along with an additional 50 regional honorees.

Selection of nominees and honorees was based upon the following:

A mathematical formula that combines the SAT or ACT composite score and a seven-semester grade-point average.
Academic achievements and honors, academic courses, and academic extracurricular activities.
Other extracurricular activities, community service, and leadership qualities.

IASP leads in the advocacy and support of all principals in their commitment to every child. The Department of Student Programs hosts 8 different academic competitions for students in grades 4-12, as well as a Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest, a Student Day at the Legislature, the Academic All-Stars Program, and the Indiana Cheer Championship. Annually, over 42,000 students are involved in Department of Student Programs-sponsored events. To learn more about the Indiana Association of School Principals and the Department of Student Programs, visit www.iasp.org.

YOU’RE INVITED: Seniors in the spotlight at Sing on the Green (5/19)

Posted: Apr 23, 2018 by Patricia Gibson, Communications Director

The Marion High School choir invites you to come and enjoy its annual year-end tradition, Sing on the Green.

The concert will feature special performances by some of the senior choir members, along with five different choirs, including the ISSMA gold-winning chamber choir. The show is part of a weekend spotlight on the arts at Marion Community Schools.

The show will start at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at the Walton Center at MHS. This year, admission is free (though we will accept donations at the door if you choose)!

Earlier in the day, you can enjoy performances by several other MCS musical groups at the All-City Art Show.

The All-City Art Show, which features artwork from students of all ages, runs from noon to 7 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Walton Center. Click here for more information.

Also that weekend, the annual Kindness Rally starts at 5:30 p.m. in the Bill Green Arena at MHS. First up is the Chain Reaction Ceremony, which will feature musical groups and more. Next up is the carnival, which will run until 8 p.m. Click here for more information.

It will be a fun-filled weekend featuring lots of our talented students. It’s a great opportunity to support our students and have a great time with family and friends!

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