Coconut Creek High Senior Jayda Washington Named NSHSS Cybersecurity Scholarship Winner

by Ryan Yousefi January 14, 2026

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Jayda Washington {courtesy}

Jayda Washington, a senior at Coconut Creek High School and a dual-enrolled student at Atlantic Technical College, has been named a 2025–26 National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) Cybersecurity Scholarship winner.

The scholarship honors Washington’s academic excellence, leadership, and commitment to STEM education.

“I truly thank God for this award. I am honored to represent BCPS, Coconut Creek High, and Atlantic Technical College as the recipient of this award,” Washington told Coconut Creek Talk, adding thanks to those who supported her journey along the way, “I would like to thank my CTA Magnet Coordinator, Dr. Marlene Bodine-Landis, and my CTACE instructors, Mr. Steiner and Mr. Wiggins at CCHS, and Mr. Melendez and Mr. Rao, for pushing me to earn over 20 industry certifications in Applied Information Technology, networking, and cybersecurity.”

Beyond the classroom, Washington shares that she is deeply involved in service and leadership initiatives throughout Broward County and beyond. She serves as Youth Consultant and Marketing Director for Dare to Care STEM Camp, where she has helped mobilize elementary and middle-school students to participate in hands-on STEM activities.

A former TED-Ed Talk speaker and NASA Space Camp Hall of Fame Scholarship recipient, Washington has advocated nationally and internationally for increased youth participation in STEM fields.

Her leadership roles extend to serving as President of HIP (Health Information Project), Secretary and Senior Mentor for Mentoring Tomorrow’s Leaders (MTL), Treasurer of M.O.S.S. (Make Our Schools Safe), and as a Broward County Chess Queen Ambassador.

Washington also excels in athletics, competing in track and field events at the local, regional, and national levels. She is the 2024 South Florida Speed Capital MVP and earned second place in the long jump at the 2025 USATF National Youth Outdoor Championship in New York City.

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Ryan Yousefi

Ryan Yousefi has lived in Coral Springs for over 30 years. He has worked as a writer for multiples outlets over the years, including the Miami New Times where he has covered sports and culture since 2013. He holds a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Business Healthcare Management from Western Governors University.