Photo by Samantha Davis Marshall High School senior Jack Gunn makes his way to the stage after being announced as the 2025 recipient of the Principal’s Award at the Pride In The Tiger Foundation scholarship ceremony Wednesday night.

MARSHALL — The Pride In The Tiger Foundation hosted its 26th annual scholarship ceremony Wednesday night at Marshall High School, and presented 134 graduates with awards that totaled $242,875.

“Scholarships are not merely a financial award. They also recognize excellence and honor to those who have shown hard work and integrity throughout their high school career, and wish to further their education,” Foundation Executive Director Krista Bjella said. “Since it was established in 1999, the foundation has provided over $2 million in scholarships to over 2,000 graduates.”

The scholarships the foundation gives out annually is comprised of annual and endowed funds from community donors.

“Scholarships hold deep meaning, not only for the students who receive them, but also the generous donors,” Bjella said. “I have witnessed countless times the pride and joy that donors feel when they learn who has received their scholarship. Their contributions create a lasting legacy and inspire the next generation.”

Students were named one by one as they were welcomed to the front of the crowd to receive their scholarship envelope from a foundation presenter, with family and supporters cheering every individual on.

In continuing tradition, one senior is given the Principal’s Award from Marshall High School Principal Brian Jones.

“The criteria for the award is simple … A person who has demonstrated academic and extracurricular balance while continually working towards the pursuit of excellence in all endeavors,” Jones said. “A person who has given unselfishly of themselves by continually supporting all of their classmates. A person who asks for little, yet continually gives up themselves for the benefit of supporting others. Most of all, the recipient is a person of high character.”

Jack Gunn was the recipient of the 2025 Principal Award.

“The award is represented by a medallion with an inscription that says, ‘Doing what’s right when nobody’s watching,'” Jones said. “Marshall High School is a better place today because of the many contributions of Mr. Jack Gunn.”

Jones also noted that the award is not one that students apply for, but rather is done through observation from fellow peers and faculty starting on the first day of high school.

A few scholarships were given to multiple students, like the D.C. Pat McFarland Jr. Scholarship, Carr Family Foundation Scholarship and Weiner Endowed Scholarship.

The Bud Rose Award was given to Joshua Leibfried. The scholarship is MHS’ oldest athletic award, presented to a male athlete who shows high levels of athletic performance, loyalty, sportsmanship, leadership and cooperation.

Ali Pederson received the Kaiser Award, with the same criteria as the Bud Rose for a senior female athlete.

Leibfried was involved in cross country, track and basketball in all four of his years. He was a part of the 2024 state champion cross country team.

Pederson has been a part of the volleyball and basketball teams, both of which finished as state runners-up this year.

Elly Lewis, Gabe Louwagie and Jonah Vorbach were each awarded the Marshall Music Boosters scholarship. Ju Eh was given the Southwest Minnesota State University School of Education scholarship.

There also were a handful of students that received two or more scholarships.

Outside of scholarships, Bjella also noted how the foundation works to financially support all Marshall schools.

“Our mission is to provide opportunities for Marshall students … We support the education of Marshall’s kids as early as preschool through our teacher impact grants,” Bjella said. “Over the last five years, we’ve given $415,000 in classroom grants for students in grades pre-K through 12 in Marshall’s public and private schools.”

The 137th annual graduation commencement for Marshall will take place at the high school on May 30 in the south gym with a 7 p.m. start.