Patriots Class of 2021 recognized during commencement

More than 300 Marion graduates receive high school diplomas

FROM THE MARION SCHOOL DISTRICT

www.msd3.org

More than 300 Marion High School graduates received their diplomas Thursday night in a commencement ceremony at Patriot Stadium.

The Class of 2021 was honored with a ceremony that included a welcome message from Senior Class President Meredith Jeannette Whited, remarks from Superintendent Glen Fenter, and the awarding of diplomas by Principal Paul Johnston and members of the Marion School District Board of Directors.

“I have nothing but pride for the members of the Class of 2021,” said Johnston. “Attending high school during a global pandemic is not something that any of us could ever have imagined. Yet these students persevered and made it to the end. I am confident that the things they have experienced and the lessons they have learned these past few years will guide them well in the years ahead.”

Thursday’s ceremony also included the recognition of honors graduates, including those earning summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude recognition.

Nearly 2,000 family and friends were on hand to watch the ceremony. Capacity was limited in order to maintain social distancing guidelines recommended because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For those unable to attend the event, the ceremony was live-streamed at marionpatriots.com and through the Marion Patriots Mascot Media app.

“It’s been a long year, and it was rewarding for our seniors to get the recognition they deserve,” Johnston said. “It was a great night.”

Honor Graduates

Summa Cum Laude (With Highest Honor)

Meredith Jeannette Whited, Malea Nicole Barlow, Sarah Elizabeth Hood, Ryan Tahsin Alam, Rachel Simone Ford Coleman, Jackson Patrick Harris, Taylor Kirklyn Harris, Adem Wahbi Behi, James Conner Jacobs, Kellie Renee Dukes, Buster Ray Allen Benton, Amelia Brown, Gabriel Lilbourn Johnson, Brandon Ray Collins, Kersten Ellis Jackson, Michael Anne O’Neal, Danielle Christine Hollis, Laylah Marie Gasca, Taylor Lynn Smith, Kandace Mae Kirkman, Kya Hamilton, Omarion Tayshunn Robinson, Mary Morgan Smith, Makinzy Rae Vangilder.

Magna Cum Laude (With High Honor) Marie Renner, Jordan Janae Smith, Morgan Janae Rucker, Logan Christopher Fowler, Camille Ann Moncrief, Victoria Nicole Hawkins, Matthew Millard Bain, Heather Lynn Fitzmaurice, Tyeshia Micheala Hurd, Alexia K’Nei Collins, Aja Arnae Le’flore, Brett Allen McCain, Jamiya Ashantia Montgomery, Leah Hope Henson, Emma Grace Dabbs, Abigail Leigh Blankenship, Alexandria Moyes, Brooke

See MARION, page A3

The Marion High School Class of 2021 tosses their caps in the air in celebration.

Photo by Andy Weld

Decked out in red, the MHS seniors enter Patriots Stadium.

Photo by Andy Weld MARION

From page A1

Cum Laude (With Honor) Lindsey Beyer, Destiny Nicole Jordan, Parker Wade Tyler.

Eva Katherine Allen, Ryan Christopher Poe, Kamryn Shelton, Aniyah Janae Smith, Praise Aeronique White, Lillian Grace Kemp, Elliott Keith Wright Jr., Grayson Forrest Rash, Zoey Paige Gann, Zachary Smith, Xavion Semaj Huff, Garret Lane Hamrick, Maleka Noell Allensworth, Kaley Danielle Jefferson, Austin Taylor Carpenter, Myah Elise Bradley, Jayce Love, Zackary Michael Kaiser, Madison Bailey Morgan.

Marion Patriot Class of 2021

Matthew Dylan Adkins, Courtney Leigh Akers, Khawlah Fadhel Al-Murisi, Kaylee Madison Allen, Kaylee Allisa Daneea Allman, Abdalfatah Sadek Almorisi, Julisa Argentina Anorve, Charles Dylan Armstrong, Ryan Curbriotra Armstrong, Scarlett Arroyo-Aguirre, Colton Payne Ashley, Kyndell Noel Bailey, Noah Yussef Balti, Naderrica Jameshya Banks, Charleigh McKenzie Barnes, Cheyanne Marie Bartoush, Cournesha Termeya Bedford, Tyler Stuart Beith, Walker Shane Akina Blankenship, Frank Antonio Bohanon, Payton Scott Bouler, Indiya Acacia Bowles, Davin Darnell Branch, Alek Deven Brandon, Abram Denarius Brewer, Fernando Jarvel Britt, Almiya Jenae Brown, Khyann Faye Brown, Kimora Nicole Brown, Tatum Annette Brown, Dixie Lynn Buie, Jessica Michelle Burns, Syncere Kashunikenshay Burton, Natalie Michelle Byers, Daedrick Sean Cail, Jacob Elisha Caldwell, Jada Aliece Carter, Nicholas Tyrone Carter, Bryan Demario Cash, Matthew Curtis Cash, Kathy Renee Ceaser, DeKayla Jeranique Cheers, MeShawnta Cohen, Stella Shaneiya Collier, Charitie Angel Colquitt, Bradley Sean Conner, Christina Memary Cooper, Mason Alexander Cooper, Caleb Robert Creech, Charles Aidan Crowe, Andrew Dewayne Cunningham, J’Brion Janai Dale, Kaleb Kejon Dale, Jaqualyn Davon Daniel, Dennis Louis Darden, Lhaikeria Denise Davis, Kylan Tyrell Dear, Gabrielle Xavia Donnerson, Miteria Shawnnice Dorsey, Hallie Jorden Dotson, Tristen Nicholas Douthet, Jorden T’yel Drone, Cooper Ross Edmonds, Ra’nyqua Denise Edmonson, Tajiri Deriuntae Ellis, Joseph Ray Ervin, Brianna Lakendia Farrow, Devin Elliot Jerrome Fletcher, Jalyn Kyshawn Fletcher, Tierra Janay Ford, Amelia Madison Fraley, Ashanti A Friason, Damicus Armon Gage, Akirah Nicole Garrett, Christopher Jayde Garza, KeSean Jamauri Gibson, Dorian Nicholas Giles, Drew Miles Granger, Antonio Adrion Grays, James Layton Greer, Amanda Deanne Griffin, Cassius Amir Hall, Ja’keya Dymae Hampton, Wesley Michael Hampton, Jayden Michael Harrell, Brandon Dean Hayes, Quintavious Hayes, Juyshua Lacor Hemphill, Jala Janise Henderson, Jaterria Goldera Henry, Hunter David Hill, Mary Ann Marie Hill, Diamond Tikeria Hinton, Makhayla Hodges, Dawson Blake Holloway, Clandra Lasha Hood, Amber Lanijah Horton, Tatum Dawson Houston, Lorenzo Devion Hudson, Willie JayShawn Hughes, Ja’barie Lenard Hunt, Jenna Jagneaux, Ontaveous Treyveon Jefferson, Nya Zakymma Jeffery, Damarion K Johnson, Devin Samuel Johnson, Israel Lynne Johnson, Mykia Terriale Johnson, Rikeyia Pearline Johnson, Desiree Grace Johnston, Jade Lashae Jones, Ke’Ron Marquel Jones, Ty’mya Marie Jones, Antwone Jamal King, Brayden Myles King, Savannah LaDarron Knight, James David Lane, Shania Marie Lathon, Darius Keyon Lawson, Diana Lashelle Lawson, Jourdan Italie Tanae’ Leslie, Taylor Kael Lewis, Lucious Lemond Love, Kenterica Marie Loving, Brandon Mackey, Mia Naomi Mason, Timothy McDonald, Breanna Heaven McFarland, Shakya Adarria Mc-Ghee, Lauren Alisha McKay, Aleixi Mendez, Avigail Mendez, Nicole Alise Mendez, Jaila Ashanti Milliner, Chyna Jade Miree E’vonta Jamal Montgomery, Tionna Moody, Zamoria Paige Mooney, Dontonio Jamelle Moore, Kenyatta Moore, John David Morse, Jamaury Roshaun Mosley, Treston Layne Musselwhite, Amaria Newman, Octavious Anthony Nix, Montavius Lamario Northern, Ethan Conner Michael Notgrass, Noah Chance O’Brien, Kellcy Taylor O’Neal, Christopher Ojeda, Emmanuel Bryce Olloway, Tysier Javon Oneal, Robert Lee Parchmon, Shymon Tinerrll Parker, Deacon Allen Dial Partain, Cedric Jermaine Paxton, Clarissa Michelle Perez, Nekayla Desmine Perkins, Makale Jamaal Pitchford, Jon Travis Prosser, Amaya Lashun Reed, D’Keyon Jakoryn Reed, Jessica Nicole Reel, Markayla Richard, Zaria Zynea Tierney Richardson, Juliana Michelle Riden, Santia Tanae Robinson, Tony Philander Robinson, Kendra Monique Rogers, Mason Alexander Rose, Kamiyah Lashun Rucks, Daryus Keith Ruffin, Brandy Jermeace Rushing, Makaya Kianna Sanders, Justin Eugene Scott, Timothy Laquavious Scullark, Shakeviya Reniece Selvy, Jeremiah Terril Sims, Ladavia Leann Sims, Kendall Casey Skinner, Amyia Ashanti Sloan, Chyna Lynn Smith, Dewayne Smith, Jayden Deshaun Smith, Lakina Renee Smith, Lauryn Doretha Smith, Tiara Shneal Smith, Torrence Jamal Smith, Tyla Smith, Bobby Don Sparks, Grace Danielle Sparks, Daeleigh Reece Stevens, Malachi Jaylen Stevenson, Emond Stewart, Zankeious Vivionis Stuckey, Darla Marie Summers, Dakota Wiley Tacker, Maya Denise Talbert, Kentra Deandre Leneal Taylor, Onica Faith Taylor, Aaliyah Deana Thompson, Antoinasia Tiggs, Abigail Grace Tilley, Hannah Marie Tilley, Baylee Colleen Trammell, Kaiya Nicole Tucker, Jeniya Anajah Tuggles, Tynerious Ty’zhiun Udell, Jamara MaDonna Walker, Yazmyne Kendria Walker, Phoebe Jayne Warren, Zachary James Warren, Darrius Waterford, Emily Lorraine Watson, Bryson Reid Webb, Darrion Latrelle Whitaker, Endya Nakia Whitaker, Jameriah Alyssa Whitaker, Charles Edward White, Destiny Faith White, E’kyra Tamea White, Georgianna Antionette White, Jordan Nicole White, Tyquwan Gariontae White, Taylor Lashay Wicker, Devon Wiley, Jasmyne Nicole Willhite, Antonia Lashay Williams, Carmen Arianna Williams, Demarcus Antonio Williams, Arshella Orene Willis, Cameron James Wilson, Dominique Rochelle Wilson, Kaiya Simone Wilson, Robbia Pearl Wilson, Sydney Michelle Wilson, Jarius Markedris Winston, Alec Lee Wolverton, Caitlyn Alise Woodson, Dionna Annette Woodson, Markel Dieshun Wynn, JaKira Young, Quadrez D Young.

With a growing enrollment of nearly 3,900 students, the Marion School District is committed to helping students develop the academic, social, and decision-making skills needed to become productive citizens in the rapidly changing technological world. For enrollment information, including information on school choice, visit https://www.msd3. org/ or call 870-739-5100.

A Patriot-themed face mask – a sobering reminder of the Class of 2021’s struggle to graduate amid a global pandemic.

Photos by Andy Weld

A speech for her classmates – an honor in and of itself.