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Marion Community Schools Announces Outstanding Alumni Award Winners

EducationPress Release

Marion Community Schools is pleased to announce the 2026 inductees for the Marion High School Hall of Distinction, along with the MHS Arts Hall of Fame and the MHS Athletics Hall of Fame.

All of these inductees will be honored during Homecoming Weekend, on Sept. 25. More details will be provided about our Night of Giants Alumni Awards ceremony closer to that time.

Congratulations to all of these exceptional alumni!

Nominations for all alumni honors are accepted year-round. For more information, check out the Alumni section at www.marion.k12.in.us.

 

MHS Hall of Distinction

 

This year’s inductees are:

 
  • Amos Randle, Class of 1951, first and only Black man to serve as police chief for the City of Marion
     
  • Michael Gault, Class of 1966, longtime educator, trainer, and coach in both athletic and academic programs
     
  • Diana Gardner, Class of 1975, longtime educator and library / media specialist at Marion Community Schools
     
  • Lezlie Winter, Class of 1977, longtime Grant County educator, administrator, and community leader
     
  • Robert Hull, Class of 1991, CFO of Panini America, a multi-billion-dollar company and a leader in the sports and entertainment industry
     
  • Daniel Swenson, Class of 1991, longtime journalist, three-time Pulitzer Prize winner, and a recipient of the Peabody Award, the Edward R. Murrow Award, and many other awards
     
  • Aparna Raj Parikh, Class of 2000, internationally recognized cancer researcher and Harvard Medical School educator
     
  • Willis Van Devanter, honorary inductee (graduated in 1876 from a Marion school that preceded the establishment of Marion High School), a Supreme Court justice for nearly three decades
     

The MHS Hall of Distinction gives lasting recognition to alumni who have made exceptional contributions to the achievements and prestige of Marion Community Schools. It also serves to help inspire current students to aspire to similar success.

Any MHS alumnus who graduated at least 10 years ago and who has made substantial contributions to the achievements of Marion Community Schools or whose exemplary actions reflect honor on MCS is eligible for nomination. The Hall seeks to honor men and women who have distinguished themselves through superb accomplishment on a local, state or national level in diverse fields of endeavor. Non-MHS graduates may be afforded honorary status in the MHS Hall of Distinction.

MHS Arts Hall of Fame

This year’s inductees are:

  • Mark Russell, Class of 1969, internationally known violinmaker
     
  • Jena (Jones) Adrianson, Class of 1970, longtime music educator

The MHS Arts Hall of Fame Distinction alumni who are nationally recognized professional artists, as well as notable MHS arts faculty. It also serves to help inspire current students to aspire to similar success.

The Giants Arts Hall of Fame opened in 2018. Inductees are honored in a display in the arts hallway, and can also be viewed online.

Any MHS alumnus who graduated at least 10 years ago and who meets the Arts Hall of Fame criteria is eligible for nomination.

 

MHS Athletics Hall of Fame

This year’s inductees are:

 
  • John Jones, Class of 1980: In football, All-State, Indiana North-South game, All-NCC, team captain; went on to play Division 1 at University of Kentucky. In basketball, 1980 state finalist. In track & field, state finalist in 880-yard relay.
     
  • Greg Roper, Class of 1985: In basketball, 1985 state championship. In track & field, 1983 state finalist in hurdles, All-NCC. In football, All-State Honorable Mention.
     
  • Kyle Chin, Class of 1998: In basketball, 1988 state finalist, All-NCC, record holder for most 3-pointers in a game. In golf, regional championship, finished sixth in state, four-time All-NCC, went on to play at Indiana Wesleyan University where he was named 1st Team All-American, won the regional qualifier to advance to national tournament three times, and was two-time Grant County Amateur champion. He has also been inducted into the Grant County Sports Hall of Fame.
     
  • Erin Guarneri, Class of 2009: In basketball, 11th all-time leading scorer, All-NCC; went on to play at Taylor University, earned a spot in their 1,000 Point Club, was a two-time NAIA All-American Honorable Mention, and was named to the All-Academic Team. In soccer, NCC and sectional titles. Also competed in volleyball, softball, and track & field.
     
  • Emily Guarneri, Class of 2010: In gymnastics, all-time record-holder in beam, held vault record for six years and finished 7th in state, 2nd team All-State, All-NCC. In cheerleading, went on to cheer at Division 1 North Carolina State. Also competed in diving and track & field, and earned 13 varsity letters total at MHS.
     
  • Katrina Blackmon, Class of 2011: In basketball, 7th all-time leading scorer, All-NCC; went on to play at Indiana Wesleyan University on the NAIA national championship team, was named 1st Team All-American, Crossroads player of the year; IWU Athletics Hall of Honor inductee. In volleyball, All-NCC. Also competed in track & field - high jump.

The Marion High School Athletics Hall of Fame seeks to honor notable Giants athletes who found success in high school, college, semi-pros, and professional leagues. It also honors others who have contributed in a meaningful way to the Marion Giants legacy of athletics excellence. It also serves to help inspire current students to aspire to similar success.

The Giants Athletics Hall of Fame opened in 2017. Inductees are honored in a display in the Bill Green Athletic Arena, and can also be viewed online.

Any MHS alumnus who graduated at least 10 years ago and who meets the Athletics Hall of Fame criteria is eligible for nomination.


Marion Community Schools Announces Outstanding Alumni Award Winners

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