New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) Drama student and Benjamin Franklin High School senior, Annie Jefferson was notified by the National YoungArts Foundation that she has been chosen as a 2013 YoungArts Merit Award Winner in Theatre. Annie will receive notification this month if she has been selected to attend National Arts Week in Miami, where she would compete for the U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts program.

The YoungArts program has been identifying, recognizing and inspiring America’s most outstanding young artists since 1981. As a Merit awardee, Annie has placed at the top 5% of the applicant pool.