Discovery Schools is proud to announce that Kenner Discovery senior and founding student Jaden Newman has been named a National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalist, an honor placing her among the top academic performers in Louisiana and across the nation.
“We are immensely proud of Jaden and all she has accomplished,” said Discovery Schools CEO Sharon Preen. “From her very first days as a Kindergarten student at Kenner Discovery, she has embodied the curiosity, perseverance, and leadership we strive to instill in all of our students. Her achievement as our school’s first National Merit Semifinalist is not only a personal milestone but also a historic one for our community. Jaden is a shining example of the well-rounded excellence that defines Discovery.”
As a Semifinalist, Jaden now has the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be awarded next spring. To advance to the Finalist level, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements, with about 95 percent expected to achieve Finalist standing. Approximately half of those will go on to earn a National Merit Scholarship, attaining the prestigious title of Merit Scholar®.
Jaden’s Discovery journey began in Kindergarten, and she has grown into a standout leader both inside and outside the classroom. She currently serves as Historian for the National Honor Society, is a founding member and captain of the girls wrestling program, a Pathway Ambassador, President of the National Art Honor Society, member of Student Council, Key Club, and HOSA, and a Freshman Academy Mentor. She is also a Certified Patient Care Technician and competes in Powerlifting.
Jaden is part of the Class of 2026, the seventh senior class to graduate from Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy.
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), a not-for-profit organization established in 1955, conducts the annual National Merit Scholarship Program to honor the nation’s scholastic champions and encourage the pursuit of academic excellence. Scholarships are underwritten by NMSC and about 300 business organizations, higher education institutions, and individual donors.