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With his father serving as current Clark County Public Schools superintendent, Jones Howard has grown up around education. 

As is evident by recent news, it has served the George Rogers Clark High School senior well. 

Howard has advanced as a National Merit Finalist, an honor achieved by less than one percent of high school seniors nationwide. 

“I was really excited to be named National Merit Finalist,” said Howard. “It’s really a huge opportunity, and it will help me get a bunch of scholarships and [other] opportunities going into college.” 

According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s Mission Statement, which can be found online at https://www.nationalmerit.org/s/1758/interior.aspx?sid=1758&gid=2&pgid=395, “the mission…is to recognize and honor the academically talented students of the United States. NMSC accomplishes its mission by conducting nationwide academic scholarship programs.” 

Goals include promoting a wider and deeper respect for general learning and more. 

Jones met certain expectations. 

These included writing multiple essays and passing the PSAT exam – a nearly three hour long test assessing students on content including math, reading, and writing. 

“You have to get a certain score…I got a 212,” he said. “It’s really meaningful. I worked really hard…[and] I had a lot of instructors pushing me to be the best I can in every way.” 

Not only has Jones shown academic strength, but the well-rounded student at GRC has shone in a number of ways. 

A starter at linebacker for GRC’s football team the last two seasons, Jones’ extracurricular activities also include being involved in groups such as the Drug Free Youth Club and Cardinal Singers. 

Howard’s work ethic and accomplishments have been noticed, including by the likes of George Rogers Clark High School Principal Luke Toy. 

“It’s an incredibly small [number] of people that move on from the semifinal stage to where Jones is now,” said Toy, emphasizing Howard’s academic integrity. “I’ve known Jones for quite a while. I’ve watched him grow up, so just as a regular human being I’m incredibly proud…this honor means that he’s done it his entire life, and he’s super deserving of it. It’s a [very] proud moment for us as a school and community.” 

In late March, the NMSC will begin notifying scholarship winners via confidential notification to their high schools. 

Howard, who plans to study mechanical engineering at a school yet to be determined, looks forward to what lies ahead. 

“I’m excited about…being able to go to college and continue learning,” he said. “I want to be able to learn all throughout my college and…career and use that to be as successful as I possibly can.”