Marion High School Alumni Association congratulates this year’s winners of the Keller Family Science Scholarship: Shaeli Castaneda, Dakhota Daley, Elijah Inskeep, Aubry Roedl, Raven Sollars, and Jyahira Washington, all members of Marion High School’s Class of 2026.

The Keller Family Science Scholarship was established in 2023 by Kathleen Keller, a 1991 graduate of MHS. This scholarship is for students planning to pursue a career in a science field. In total, $1,200 was awarded this year.

Shaeli Castaneda, $200 scholarship winner

Shaeli ranks ninth in the Marion High School Class of 2026. She is vice president of Spanish Honor Society; an officer for Mu Alpha Theta National Mathematics Honor Society; and a member of Science National Honor Society and National Honor Society. 

She has played tennis since fifth grade at Marion, and competed in the No. 1 Singles spot for Marion High School. She earned Academic All-State recognition three years, and she was a Sectional and Regional individual champion. She earned three sportsmanship awards from USTA. She has also won more than 15 local tennis tournaments at singles and doubles. Shaeli also played soccer for Marion High School, and earned Academic All-State recognition three years. She also has served as manager for boys tennis, and is an IHSAA Ambassador.

Shaeli also is vice president of her class and served in the MHS Student Senate; president of the Best Buddies Club; and a member of Key Club, M-Club, and FCA. She is a JROTC cadet and has earned Cadet Challenge and Outstanding STEM Achievement awards. She was a musician with the Marion High School band program, and she played with pep band and jazz band, earning ISSMA Gold with Distinction awards three times. She has also volunteered with MCS Unified Sports, the MHS swim team, and helped coach kids tennis camps. 

She plans to attend Purdue University in Lafayette to major in pharmaceutical science and pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Her career goal is to become a licensed pharmacist. 

Shaeli is a 2026 recipient of several scholarships facilitated by the Marion High School Alumni Association: the Jack and Dave Colescott Scholarship, the Marion Giants Athletic Boosters Scholarship, the Beekman-Porter Tennis Scholarship, and the Keller Family Science Scholarship, for a total award of $3,050.

Dakhota Daley, $200 scholarship winner

Dakhota ranks second in the Marion High School Class of 2026, and she is president of National Honor Society and a member of Mu Alpha Theta National Mathematics Society, National Science Honor Society, National English Honor Society, National Art Honor Society and Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (Spanish Honor Society). She was named an IASP Rising Star. 

She is a section leader for the MHS band program, playing with wind ensemble and the Marching Giants and earning several ISSMA awards. She was selected for the IBA All-Region Honor Band and All-District Honor Band, and the Grant County Honor Band. She was also selected as an Indiana Ambassador of Music for their 2025 European tour.

Dakhota is a four-year member of the MHS track and field team, advancing to regional and earning Academic All-Star Honorable Mention. She is vice president for the Class of 2026, and is an officer in Student Senate. She has received awards for excellence in art, chemistry, history, and Spanish. She has also studied dance, and has served as a dance instructor.

She plans to attend the University of Chicago to study neuroscience on a pre-medicine track. Her career goal is to become a neurosurgeon.

Dakhota is a 2026 recipient of two scholarships facilitated by the Marion High School Alumni Association: the Keller Family Science Scholarship, and the Marion Giants Athletic Boosters Scholarship. She was also selected for a James Blackmon Family Scholarship, which was announced during the MHSAA’s scholarship awards. Her total award is $1,450. 

Elijah Inskeep, $200 scholarship winner

Elijah ranks third in the Marion High School Class of 2026, and he is a College Board AP Scholar with Honor. He was named an IASP Rising Star. He is a member of National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta National Mathematics Society and has competed in regional and national mathematics competitions. He has also served as a math tutor for fellow students. 

He is also a student of the CSA Arts Academy, an exclusive partnership between the Marion Community School of the Arts (CSA) and Marion Community Schools that provides pre-professional arts training along with the benefits of a traditional public school. 

Elijah is a member of the CSA Theatre compANY, a rigorous pre-professional program through Marion CSA, which offers training in theatrical performance and tech, dance, and vocal and acting technique. He is a multi-track student, meaning he has studied both performance and production. He has also studied dance for 10 years, and has served as a dance instructor. He has also served as assistant director and director of photography through the CSA film production program. Through the theatre company, he has been in the cast of more than 15 productions, many of which have been part of the Student Performance Series, which offers free shows for area school groups — meaning he has performed in front of more than 15,000 local students over the years. He has also worked as a set and lighting designer for the CSA Children’s Theatre and has served on the stage crew for CSA Civic Theatre, where he also volunteered on construction and renovation projects.

He is a member of the International Thespian Society (the theatre honor society), for which he has served as Vice President and Secretary for Troupe 12404 at CSA. He also has served as a mentor for younger theatre students.

Elijah has also participated in the Disney Imagination Campus program, completing the Disney Broadway Magic and Disney Immersive Storytelling workshops.

He plans to attend Northwestern University to double major in theatre and engineering. His career goal is to become a Disney Imagineer. 

Elijah is a 2026 recipient of two scholarships facilitated by the Marion High School Alumni Association: the F. Ritchie Walton Scholarship, and the Keller Family Science Scholarship, for a total award of $700. 

Aubry Roedl, $200 scholarship winner

Aubry ranks sixth in the Marion High School Class of 2026. She is a member of National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta National Mathematics Society, and Spanish Honor Society.  

She is a three-year member of the MHS girls tennis team, earning All-NCC Second Team honors; a four-year member of the MHS girls basketball team, earning All-NCC honors; and a four-year member of the MHS volleyball team, earning All-NCC and All-Academic honors; and a two-year member of the MHS cheerleading team, earning All-American honors. She is also a member of Key Club, and has volunteered for youth sports camps, community cleanups, and more. 

Aubry plans to attend Indiana Wesleyan and major in nursing. Her career goal is to become a registered nurse and then a nurse practitioner.

Aubry is a 2026 recipient of three scholarships facilitated by the Marion High School Alumni Association: the Beekman-Porter Tennis Scholarship, the Jason Taylor Family Scholarship, and the Keller Family Science Scholarship, for a total award of $3,000.

Raven Sollars, $200 scholarship winner

Raven ranks seventh in the Marion High School Class of 2026. She is a member of National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta National Mathematics Society, and Spanish Honor Society.  

She is a four-year member of the MHS girls soccer team, earning All-NCC honors. She also has participated in the Indy Premier and olympic development soccer systems. She also was a member of the MHS basketball and swim teams. She is also a member of the Key Club and the M-Club.

Raven plans to study nursing and biochemistry and is still considering college options. Her career goal is to become a pediatric oncology nurse and then a nurse practitioner.

Raven is a 2026 recipient of two scholarships facilitated by the Marion High School Alumni Association: the Keller Family Science Scholarship, and the Marion Giants Athletic Boosters Scholarship, for a total award of $700.

Jyahira Washington, $200 scholarship winner

Jyahira was a four-year member of the MHS track and field team. 

She was also a musician with the MHS band program, playing in symphonic band, wind ensemble, and pep band, and serving as color guard section leader for the Marching Giants. She is a member of National Honor Society and was involved with theater and robotics. She also volunteered at track meets and robotics competitions for lower grade levels.

She plans to attend Indiana University – Indianapolis, where she will study medical imaging technology. Her career goal is to become a radiologic technologist. 

Jyahira is a 2026 recipient of three scholarships facilitated by the Marion High School Alumni Association: the Jack and Dave Colescott Scholarship, the Keller Family Science Scholarship, and the Jason Taylor Family Scholarship, for a total award of $4,700.