School administrators, parents, elected officials and community leaders gathered at the Hamasa Temple Shrine in Marion Friday as the Marion Police Department Foundation awarded 17 scholarships to recent high school graduates from throughout the East Mississippi area.

Receiving scholarships this year were Mariah Nash of Kemper High, Kenzie Chisolm of Kemper Academy, MaKayla Hopkins of Clarkdale High, Courtney Bourrage II of Northeast, Alannah Langston of Northeast, Taleah Anderson of Meridian High, Jake Rodgers of West Lauderdale High, Aniya Buxton of West Lauderdale High, Christina Hopson of Southeast High, Eva Grace Turnipseed of Lamar High, Joseph Bolton of Russell Christian Academy, Hannah Hardaway of Newton High, Javonte Moore of Union High, Karity Peebles of Philadelphia High, Cara Jones of Neshoba Central, Slater Adams of Quitman High and Isabella Dennis of Enterprise High.

Marion Police Chief Randall Davis said he wants the graduates to understand the community is behind them and help is available whenever it is needed. The theme for this year’s scholarship awards, he said, was something his mother used to say: “You can always come home.”

That phrase will mean something different to each person, Davis said, but for Friday’s scholarship recipients, it means they will always find support in Marion.

“Marion Mississippi, Marion PD, Randall Davis, that’s what it means, you can come to me, 2, 3, 4 o’clock in the morning,” he said. “You can get my number.”

Lauderdale County Sheriff Ward Calhoun encouraged the recent graduates to continue to practice the discipline and work ethic that earned them their scholarships even as they venture out away from the parents and teachers that helped instill those lessons. It can be difficult to stay motivated without that reinforcement, he said, but hard work will always pay off.

“Be disciplined, stay humble, stay hungry. Figure out what your purpose in this world is and then go to work getting after it,” he said. “If you will do that, you will have a life of purpose. You will enjoy the rest of your years on this earth, and you will make a difference in the lives of others, and in doing that, you will have fulfillment.”

Andrea Williams, communications director for Lauderdale County School District, said she wanted to share some truths with the scholarship recipients that will help them in the years to come. The first, she said, is that mistakes are a part of being human. What matters more than the mistake, she said, is how you respond to making it.

The second truth, Williams said, is to recognize the importance of constructive criticism. While some criticism is unfounded and can be shrugged off, constructive criticism is a tool that fuels growth.

“Other criticism is just there to tear you down, and there’s always going to be that,” she said, “But always value that constructive criticism.”