Midland YWLA senior earns National Merit Scholarship honor

May 13-Young Women's Leadership Academy senior Jillian Bejil has been selected as a recipient of the National Merit Scholarship. Awarded by the National Merit Scholarship Corp., the scholarship recognizes some of the nation's most academically talented high school students based on academic achievement, leadership and potential for success in rigorous college study.

"Jillian has worked incredibly hard for this honor, and we are so proud of her," said Laura Doughty, principal of Young Women's Leadership Academy, in a statement by Midland ISD. "At the same time, this recognition does not fully capture who she is; her character and integrity are what truly set her apart."

Bejil has been involved in cross-country, soccer, UIL Academics and several student organizations throughout high school. She is one of roughly 1.5 million students who enter the competition each year, with about 16,000 semifinalists and 7,000 scholarship recipients nationwide. Participants are selected based on scores from the PSAT/NMSQT. Bejil received a $2,500 scholarship, one of 2,500 awarded annually and funded by the National Merit Scholarship Corp.

"Being named a winner of this scholarship affirms the hard work I have put into my high school years, but it is also a reflection of the endless support I have received from my family and the YWLA community as a whole," Bejil said in the statement. "I am honored that such a respectable corporation could see the value in my future and mission of assisting underserved communities. As the first National Merit Scholar from YWLA, I hope this achievement shows my younger sisters how limitless their opportunities truly are, as long as they remain disciplined and consistently pursue their passions. I am so excited for all of the amazing things that this scholarship will enable me to pursue in the next four years and beyond!"

Bejil will attend Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, this fall and has already received its Johnson Scholarship. She plans to pursue studies in liberal arts before eventually attending medical school.

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This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 10:01 PM.