Jordan Shelton Winner of National Merit Scholarship
Photo by Rebecca Holt
Thomas Jefferson Senior Jordan Shelton is not your ordinary Spartan. He is a student athlete who runs track (participating in the 400m and 800m races), runs cross country, has a 4.3 grade point average, and recently has become a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Foundation Award.
The National Merit Scholarship is a recognition for high school students that honors and recognizes outstanding scholars who have taken the PSAT and have received among the highest scores across the country. It is a non-profit organization that operates without government assistance, with hopes of supporting the winners with their education. The requirements for this scholarship include being a US citizen, taking the PSAT, and to be enrolled in high school. They select 15,000 finalists based on their abilities, skills, and accomplishments, and has currently recognized three million students, giving out 335,000 scholarships worth more that $1.3 billion.
“I felt good after taking the PSAT. I was confident that I had done well and was proud of my scores,” said Jordan, who also said that his teachers really did a great job of preparing him everyday in class. “I was shocked when I received an envelope in the mail saying that I was a finalist for the scholarship, and I am honored to be a finalist as an African American,” said Jordan, who scored a 198 cumulative on the PSAT.
Track and cross country aren’t the only activities in which Jordan participates at TJ. He is also a member of the Black Student Alliance program at TJ. “It’s a new program here at TJ and I am glad to be a part of this program and to be among the first to help start this program,” said Jordan.
At TJ, Jordan’s favorite class and teacher are Physics X with Nelson Vore. “He is a funny teacher that makes class interesting and interactive with a lot of demonstrations,” said Jordan. “I remember one day in class when Mr. Vore made a marshmallow explode just for fun. He set up a contraption in front of the classroom with the marshmallow inside of it. He turned on this machine that began to suck out air from the glass. We watched anxiously as the marshmallow got bigger and bigger until it made a big popping sound. It was a fun day and gave us a chance to get away from ordinary book work,” said Jordan.
Vore thinks highly of Jordan as a student, and says Jordan is one of the best students that he’s ever had. “He is very intelligent and I can tell that he really enjoys my physics class,” said Vore, who has taught Jordan for two years in his honors and AP physics classes. “The thing that makes Jordan different from most other students is that he has great abilities and is the type of person who turns his dreams into reality,” said Vore, who also said he has seen Jordan develop over the years and sees big plans for Jordan’s future. “I can easily see him as an engineer with a lot of success in his life. I would be surprised if he wasn’t,” said Vore.
One thing that makes Jordan stand out in Vore’s class is the Scrambler Project, wherein the student has to make a device that can carry a raw egg as close as possible to the wall without breaking the egg. The device is powered by a 1kg weight. The students must be able to get the egg to the wall safely and as quickly as possible. “Jordan did the best scrambler project I had ever seen. He even had brakes so that the device would stop just before hitting the wall,” said Vore, who added, “I wish the best for Jordan in his life, although he really won’t need it because he is a smart young man.”
Jordan’s hobbies include hanging out with his friends, running track, watching South Park and The Simpsons, and reading. “I enjoy South Park and The Simpsons because they are funny shows that I have watched since I was eight years old, and they help with stressful days,” said Jordan, whose favorite book is A Million Little Pieces written by James Fray.
After high school Jordan wants to attend Stanford University, with the help of the Merit Scholarship, and pursue engineering and track programs there. After college, Jordan wants to become either a mechanical or civil engineer in Colorado with hopes of earning $80,000 a year.
During Jordan’s time spent in high school, he has two things to say to the younger classmen. “Always work as hard as you can at everything you do and it will pay off for you. Have fun and enjoy your time in high school, but always remember that your grades come first.” During Jordan’s long journey through high school his biggest influence thus far has been his mother. “My mother has always pushed me to be the best that I can be, and she’s a big reason of who I am today,” said Jordan.
