MHSAA presents arts scholarships to three Marion High School seniors

Patricia GibsonMCS News, MHSAA News

Marion High School Alumni Association congratulates this year’s winners of the MHSAA F. Ritchie Walton Arts Scholarship: Caleb Huff, Emma Miller, and Isaiah Stevens, all members of Marion High School’s Class of 2025.

This scholarship honors Marion High School students for their accomplishments and involvement in arts education, and their plans to pursue a career in the arts. In total, $1,500 was awarded this year.

The MHSAA F. Ritchie Walton Endowment for the Arts was established in 2021, combining the MHSAA Giant Arts Endowment, founded in 2015, and the F. Ritchie Walton Endowment, founded in 2002 in honor of innovative music educator F. Ritchie Walton, who put Marion High School on the map with excellent music and theatre programs. Walton’s legacy lives on in the performing arts center named for him at Marion High School.

From left, MHSAA President David Rees, MHS senior Caleb Huff, and MHSAA member Steve Wright.

Caleb Huff, $750 scholarship winner

Caleb has been studying music at Marion Community Schools since fifth grade. He has been in band for seven years, performing with the Justice Intermediate School beginning band; the McCulloch Junior High School honor and jazz bands; and the Marion High School marching band, wind ensemble, jazz band, and pep band. He also performed with the honor and jazz choirs at MJH. 

He has earned many other honors over the course of his music education at MCS, including: 

  • Selected to All State Honors Elementary Choir in fifth and sixth grades
  • Selected to All State Honors Middle School Choir in seventh and eighth grades
  • Selected to All State Percussion Ensemble for all four years at Marion High School, something no other musician at the school has accomplished. 
  • Earned a very impressive 32 gold medals at the Indiana State School Music Association’s Solo & Ensemble competition:
    • 7 gold with distinction state level solo medals
    • 1 gold with distinction state ensemble medal
    • 2 gold state solo medals  
    • 1 gold state ensemble medal
    • 21 district medals for solos and ensembles

Caleb has also been involved in Marion robotics teams for 10 years. He has been a member of the MHS broadcast crew for five years, honing the skills needed to broadcast live events including athletic competitions and more. He has also put these skills to use at his church, where he has been a part of the Lakeview Wesleyan Church livestream crew.   

He plans to attend Ball State University, with the goal of a media production degree.When asked what his involvement in the arts at Marion has taught him, he said: “I have learned that you are meant to screw up in life. You don’t learn from being perfect. You only learn from continuous mistakes, and how to use those mistakes to your advantage.”

From left, MHSAA President David Rees, MHS senior Emma Miller, and MHSAA member Steve Wright.

Emma Miller, $500 scholarship winner

Emma’s art education at Marion Community Schools began in her elementary art classes, and she has been involved in in-depth study and practice of visual arts, including painting, drawing, ceramics, and more since fifth grade. 

She was named Marion High School 2D Artist of the Year in her junior year. She said her teachers at Marion Community Schools have helped her develop not only her artistic techniques, but also her identity as an artist, pouring her emotions and personality into her artwork.

Emma is president of the MHS chapter of the National Art Honor Society, team leader for the MHS robotics team, captain of the MHS girls swim team, competes with the Academic Giants fine arts team, and is a member of National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta National Mathematics Honor Society.

She plans to attend Northern Kentucky University to study graphic design and 2D studio art. “I strive to bring people together through art,” she said.

From left, MHSAA President David Rees, MHS senior Isaiah Stevens, and MHSAA member Steve Wright.

Isaiah Stevens, $250 scholarship winner

Isaiah has been studying theatre for nine years, first in community theatre, and then, starting in eighth grade, as part of the CSA Theatre compANY at Marion Community School of the Arts. In addition to being a member of the Marion High School Class of 2025, he has participated in the exclusive MCS partner program the CSA Arts Academy, a pre-professional arts training program. 

Through the Arts Academy he has expanded his studies to include dance, music theory, vocal and theatrical technique training, and theatre production, including lighting design and set and prop building. He has performed in dozens of theatrical productions over the years. He is also a member of the International Thespian Society, a theatre honor society.  

Through CSA he has also been able to serve as a lighting designer for their Children’s Theatre program. He enjoys being able to be a positive role model for other youths who might also aspire to a career in the arts. 

Isaiah plans to attend Anderson University, double majoring in musical theatre and psychology. His career goal is professional stage performance, and he is also interested in integrating work as a therapist, specializing in support for performers.

“The arts have taught me that I can be myself no matter what situation I am put in. It allows me the freedom to help others see the potential in themselves when they are down,” he said. 

Congratulations to these three outstanding young artists!

Marion High School Alumni Association is grateful for our collaborative relationship with Marion Community Schools and the community, which enables us to help provide excellent opportunities for Marion students!

We are also grateful to those who served on the scholarship committee. We thank them for giving their time to this special task!

If you would like to give to the MHSAA F. Ritchie Walton Endowment for the Arts, you can do so online here: givetogrant.org/giantarts.