JAGUARS IN THE NEWS
Hometown High-Q Team Advances to Quarterfinals
Thomas Jefferson High School ’ s Academic League team advanced to the quarterfinals of KDKA-TV ’ s Williams Hometown High-Q quiz program . The TJHS squad of seniors Ayaan Ansaari , Ian Karel and Aiden Mohideen defeated teams from Penn Trafford and Washington during the first round .
The Jaguars ’ squad advanced to the Hometown High-Q quarterfinals , which will air on KDKA-TV in February . Thomas Jefferson ’ s Dan Giger and David Shearouse are co-sponsors of TJ ’ s Academic League team .
Hosted by KDKA-TV Chief Meteorologist Ray Petelin , this is the 23rd season of a total of Hometown High-Q . A total of 81 high schools in western Pennsylvania began the competition for the 2021-22 Williams Hometown High-Q crown .
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WEST JEFFERSON HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
Senior Anthony Sparta Selected a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist
Thomas Jefferson High School senior Anthony Sparta has been selected a semifinalist for the prestigious National Merit Scholarship ®.
Sparta ranks among the top one percent of all U . S . high school seniors who completed the Preliminary SAT ( PSAT ) last year . He is president of the TJHS STEM Club and a member of the National Honor Society , Varsity Academic League and AP Humanities . He also is a member of the varsity boys tennis team .
Sparta will have an opportunity to continue in the competition for approximately 7,500 National Merit Scholarships ® that will be offered this spring . To be considered for a Merit Scholarship ® award , semifinalists and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application , in which they provide information about the semifinalist ’ s academic record , participation in school and community activities , demonstrated leadership abilities , employment , and honors and awards received .
Established in 1955 , the National Merit Scholarship Corporation ( NMSC ®) recently announced the names of approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 67th annual National Merit Scholarship Program . Finalists will be selected in February 2022 and the Merit Scholarship recipients will be announced in the spring .
Students entered the 2022 National Merit Scholarship ® Program by taking the 2020 Preliminary SAT / National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test ( PSAT / NMSQT ®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants .
Big Crowd Enjoys 18th Annual TJ Band Festival
A sunny , warm evening greeted the more than 1,000 attendees at the Thomas Jefferson High School Jaguar Marching Band ’ s 18th annual Fall Festival of Bands .
The crowd in Thomas Jefferson Stadium was treated to a variety of musical selections by the seven high school bands , ranging from the big band era , to 1970 and 80 ’ s pop and soul classics to 2000 ’ s hits .
In addition to Thomas Jefferson , the other high school bands that performed at the TJ Band Festival were : Allderdice , Derry Area , Edison ( Ohio ), Greensburg Salem , South Allegheny and South Park . The New Horizons Majorettes also performed and the Steeline Pittsburgh Drumline concluded the 2 ½ hour program .
The TJ Band Festival is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the TJ Marching Band , with the money raised used to maintain and replace uniforms , purchase new equipment and props for halftime shows and band travel costs .
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