Background:
The Jaidon Joseph Smith Educational Scholarship Fund provides resources and funding to deserving students in the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Gifted and Talented/Learning Disability (GT/LD) program, who overcame educational challenges to thrive at school and plan to attend a college or university after they graduate. These scholarships are in memory of Jaidon, who tragically died in an automobile accident on June 9, 2021 just weeks after graduating from Walter Johnson High School.
2026 SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE TO CURRENT GT/LD HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
Jaidon Joseph Smith Educational Scholarship Award: The annual scholarship will be awarded to the chosen recipient in the amount of $2,500 per year, for up to 4 years total (grand total of up to $10,000 per recipient) to one student annually. The recipient will need to provide proof graduation from the MCPS High School and of enrollment for the Fall 2026 into college. For the following three years, they will need to provide proof of continued enrollment and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher to obtain the scholarship for the upcoming year.
Jaidon Joseph Smith Educational Scholarship Kickstart Award: The annual scholarship will be a one-time award of $1,000 to at least one 12th grade GT/LD student annually. The recipient will need to provide proof graduation from the MCPS High School and of enrollment for the Fall 2026 into college.
Jaidon Joseph Smith Educational Scholarship Recognition Award: The annual scholarship will be a one-time award of $250 to at least one 12th grade GT/LD student annually. The recipient will need to provide proof graduation from the MCPS High School and of enrollment for the Fall 2026 into college.
Eligibility for a 2026 Scholarship, Kickstarter or Recognition Award: Student must be a 2026 graduating senior in the MCPS GT/LD Program at Walter Johnson High School, Northwood High School, or Watkins Mill High School, and be accepted into a two-year associate degree program or a four-year bachelor’s degree program from an accredited college or university with a fall 2026 start. Student must submit a letter of recommendation, with approved eligibility, from at least one staff member who worked with them closely while in the GT/LD program (case manager, teacher, co-teacher, guidance counselor, MCPS staff and/or Paraeducator).
Jaidon Joseph Smith Educational Scholarship Gap Year Award: The annual scholarship will be a one-time award of $500 to one 12th grade GT/LD student annually. The recipient will need to provide proof graduation from the MCPS High School.
Eligibility for a 2026 Gap Year Award: Student must be a 2026 graduating senior in the MCPS GT/LD Program at Walter Johnson High School, Northwood High School, or Watkins Mill High School, and be planning to take a gap year before attending a two-year associate degree program or a four-year bachelor’s degree program from an accredited college or university with a fall 2027 start. Student must submit a letter of recommendation, with approved eligibility, from at least one staff member who worked with them closely while in the GT/LD program (case manager, teacher, co-teacher, guidance counselor, MCPS staff and/or Paraeducator).
2026 SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE TO CURRENT GT/LD HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS
Jaidon Joseph Smith Educational Scholarship Embark Award: This annual scholarship will be an annual one-time award of $250 to at least one 11th grade GT/LD student annually to be used towards college application fees or preparatory efforts for applying to college in the fall.
Eligibility for a 2026 Embark Award: Student must be a 2025-2026 junior in the MCPS GT/LD Program at Walter Johnson High School, Northwood High School, or Watkins Mill High School and planning to enroll in a two-year associate degree program or applying to a four-year bachelor’s degree program from an accredited college or university with a fall 2025 start.
Note that eligibility requirements may change and the program may expand in the future, depending on the Fund receiving an independent 501(3)(c) status.
ALL APPLICATIONS: KEY DATES TO REMEMBER
- Tuesday, January 20, 2026: Applications Released.
- Friday, February 27, 2026: All FINAL applications due to be submitted by COB on this date, no extensions will be granted so plan to submit before this deadline for consideration.
- Friday, April 10, 2026: Interviews of the top applicants will be completed no later than this date. (Interviews will be scheduled between April 7-10)
- Friday, April 18, 2026: Selection by the Committee will be announced to the recipient by no later than this date.
- Saturday, April 30, 2026: Awardees will be notified by no later than this date.
DETERMINATIONS:
All complete applications submitted by the Application Due date will be anonymously reviewed by nine members of the Scholarship Review Committee. Once reviewed, a select number of committee members will interview the top three applicants, from whom they will determine an awardee. Each virtually conducted interview (Seniors only) will be no more than 30 minutes in length. The committee must come to a majority consensus on the selected candidate.
The selected candidates will be notified privately, and then recognized at the Walter Johnson High School Annual Senior Awards Banquet, with an announcement to the community made by a member of Jaidon Smith’s family.
Contact us with any questions.
If you would like to receive emails about the scholarship, please sign up for our newsletter.