Jayda Washington-Boothe is a 12-year-old Jamaican-Bahamian recipient of the 2020 NASA Rocket and Space Center Scholarship for Robotics.
Washington-Boothe won the scholarship after completing a rigorous application which includes the completion of a research project, resume’ and patch application from August to November of 2019, CNW reported.
According to the outlet, the scholarship will cover Washington-Boothe’s tuition, room among others in Huntsville, Alabama.
A sixth-grader in the Broward County Public Schools, Florida, Washington-Boothe is an enthusiastic member of several youth organizations including but not limited to the Black Girls Code-Miami Chapter, IT Women, Girl Up, Word Camp Miami, Vex Robotics SECME, National Junior Honor Society, and The US Chess Federation.
Born and raised in Florida, Washington-Boothe spoke at a computer programming conference at the age of nine and has since gone on to speak at the Children’s Services Council 2018 Status of Girls and Young Women in Broward County, NBC Channel 6 “Day of the Girl in STEM,” and was a NASA Space Camp Finalist, The Jamaicans reported.
Prior to receiving the NASA scholarship, Washington-Boothe was the recipient of the Florida State Representative Richard Stark Community Service Award and was also a nominee for the City of Coral Springs MLK Monument Award for her leadership ability and community service, the outlet reported.
Jayda’s goals are to become a software engineer, a professional chef, and a professional athlete.