Harvey, La. native Zaila Avant-garde has made Louisiana proud in many ways. On Friday, her home state honored her in a major way just before the 48th Annual Bayou Classic in New Orleans.
The Network Coalition presented her with its Pride of Louisiana Award–a six-foot, blue and gold trophy and an honor medallion.
“We’re going to have to accrue some real estate for this. I don’t know where I’m going to put it,” the 14-year-old joked. On social media, she (@basketballasart) posted that it is the biggest trophy she has received.
Avant-garde is the first Black American and first Louisianan to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Her winning smile and celebration spin stole the nation’s heart.
The teen is also a basketball phenom who has secured three basketball Guinness World Records. Earlier this month, she was named Sports Illustrated’s Sports Kid of the Year.
Members of the Network Coalition and representatives from the National Bar Association, NAACP, the Burrell Group, the Louisiana Association of Educators, and Java Copy Zone presented the award during the annual reception.
