By SUSAN BERG

Managing editor

The top three scholars of the Marion High School class of 2011 had common messages Sunday to their classmates — make the most of your talents.

The 49 seniors were recognized for their accomplishments at the USD 408 Sports and Aquatic Center.

Salutatorian and class president Landon Leiker compared graduation with three types of fishermen — bait, casting, and fly.

“You can sit and wait for your future to come by and get your bait,” Leiker said, demonstrating a bait angler — with fishing pole in hand and sitting on the edge of the stage.

Or graduates can cast their hooks into their future, Leiker said, changing to a fishing pole with lures.

“It takes more work but the rewards can be much more,” he said.

And then there’s the fly fisherman. This graduate works harder to achieve goals, moving up and down streams to find his or her rewards.

Leiker used the example of community and school leaders who help students perform at their best.

He challenged his classmates to be fly fishermen.

Co-valedictorian Derek Stuchlik encouraged his classmates to share their gifts with others.

For nearly all of our lives, we have been going to school, he said. The class has earned this recognition and should make the most of it.

“We have much to show the world,” he said.

Stuchlik concluded that graduation is not an end but a beginning.

Co-valedictorian Dane Purkeypile said he was going to miss high school but was looking forward to life ahead.

He also encouraged classmates to come back in five years for a reunion.

“Great job and see you in five years,” Purkeypile said.

Awards

The faculty and staff at MHS chose a senior boy and girl who, among other attributes, exemplified responsible citizens with strong moral character, loyalty to the school, and maintained a positive attitude. This year’s winners were Stuchlik and Tristen Snelling.

Honor students were Raelene Allen, Donna Cady, Melissa Carlson, Madison Chamberland, Patrick Hodson, Leiker, Adam Molleker, Vu Nguyen, Purkeypile, Snelling, Matthew Sprowls, and Stuchlik.

Local scholarships awarded were the Calvin Ray Hett Memorial Scholarship to Adam Cope; FFA Alumni Awards, Cope, Mitch Ragland, and Shayla Rahe; Earl Wineinger Scholarship, Cope; J.L. and Ada Fruechting Memorial Scholarships, Emily Hett and Snelling; Shelter Insurance Scholarship, Stuchlik; Marion Advancement Campaign Scholarships, Brandon Meierhoff and Michael Kirkpatrick; Tampa State Bank Scholarship, Tim Costello; St. Luke Hospital and Auxiliary, Cady; Corey Darrow Memorial Scholarship, Costello; PEO Chapter DB Scholarship, Snelling; Key Club Scholarship, Kirkpatrick; Chris Hauser & Sons Performing Arts Award, Leiker; Dean Pippin Memorial Scholarship, Dillon Richmond; Marion High School Endowed Scholarship, Chamberland; Schlotterbeck Family Scholarship, Purkeypile; and Outstanding Senior Writers, Colin Eurit and Cady.

School awards

MHS students, freshmen through seniors, received awards Thursday evening for their accomplishments in the 2010-11 school year.

Building Trades and Construction

Green Horn Award: Cope

Most Outstanding Seniors: Tommy Tajchman and Jordan Versch

Art

Artist of the Year: Jessie Taylor

Photographer of the Year: Snelling

Newcomer of the Year: Vu Nyguen

Vo-Ag

South Central District Proficiency: Jacob Cope, forage production; Rahe, swine placement; and Adam Cope, beef placement.

Music

Outstanding Choral Music Student: Leiker

Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America

Certificates of participation: Alyssa Edwards, Brenna Loftus, Cheyenne Jeffrey, Heather Fine, Jack Crayton, Karly Hess, Lauren McLinden, Luke Steele, Marissa Nunnelee, Mary Britton, Megan Davies, Olivia Kincaid, Rahe, and Snelling.

Forensics

Outstanding Forensicator: Leiker

Letter-winners: seniors Leiker, Sarah Guetersloh, Kirkpatrick, Rahe, and EJ Obermeyer; juniors Caroline Collett, Andrew Kjellin, and Justin Rahe; sophomores Isaac Baldwin, Dylan Goebel, JayDee Schafers, and Ryan Nelson.

Scholar’s bowl

The teams participated in 11 varsity and three junior varsity and freshman-sophomore competitions. The varsity team of Stuchlik, Hodson, Collett, and Baldwin took second place in the 3A division at Washburn Quest competition for the fourth consecutive year. Junior varsity took fourth at the Smoky Valley Invitational.

Letter-winners: seniors Stuchlik, Obermeyer, Hodson, Leiker, and Purkeypile; junior Collett; sophomores Baldwin, Elizabeth Goentzel, and Angel Funk; and freshmen Nick Meyer and Zach Robson.

The top scorer for junior varsity and freshman-sophomore competition was Meyer. The top scorer for varsity was Stuchlik.