Announcing the Northwood High School Recipient of the 2026 Awards
The Jaidon Joseph Smith Educational Scholarship Fund was established to honor the memory of Jaidon Smith, a Walter Johnson High School graduate who tragically passed away in an automobile accident on June 9, 2021, just days after graduation. This scholarship recognizes students in the Montgomery County Public Schools Twice Exceptional (2E) program who have overcome significant educational challenges while excelling academically and preparing for college.
On May 13, 2026, for the first time at Northwood High School, we were proud to present the Jaidon Joseph Smith Educational Scholarship Award to student Katherine Stokley Vierling.
Katherine’s journey reflects extraordinary perseverance, growth, and self-advocacy. As a 2E student balancing advanced coursework with learning challenges, she worked tirelessly to develop the executive functioning, organization, and independence needed to thrive academically. Through Honors and AP coursework, Katherine learned how to advocate for herself, manage her accommodations, and build systems that allowed her to succeed on her own terms. Her determination, maturity, and resilience embody the spirit of this scholarship, and we are excited to see all she will accomplish in the future.
Congratulations, Katherine!
These awards are given in memory of our son, Jaidon Joseph Smith, a 2021 WJ graduate who tragically passed away just days after graduation. Jaidon’s experience in the GT/LD program transformed his academic journey and inspired the creation of this foundation.
We invite you to watch the full award presentation and learn more about our mission in the video below.
To support future recipients, please consider making a donation at www.jaidonsmith.com/donate.
Thank you to the staff, students, and community members who continue to help us carry Jaidon’s legacy forward.
We would like to thank all of you who have donated to this and especially thank our 2026 Board Members for their time and expertise in determining the awardees, Benita Cohen, Nancy Edwards, Jeanne Ellinport, Jacob Hartranft, Jenna Landy, Shari Perry, Jessica Smith, Kyra Smith, Laylie Smith, Troy Smith, Debbie Szyfer, and Rochelle Vega, because without you all it would not have been possible to honor Jaidon’s legacy.