Spelling Bee Champ Zaila Avant-garde Named SportsKid Of The Year!

Today (Nov. 24) Sports Illustrated Kids made a very special announcement that Zaila Avant-garde was named the 2021 SportsKid of the year! Louisiana's 2021 Scripps Champion captivated the world with her historic win in July. The talented 14-year old basketball player, from Harvey, La. made history when she won by becoming the first African American to win the Scripps Bee in its 93-year history! Her story is truly amazing and proves you can do anything if you put your mind to it.

Zaila is quite the athlete. Not only is she an outstanding basketball player, but she is also a Guinness World Records alum! At 13-years old she accomplished her goal of setting a new record with 231 bounce juggles with basketballs. Certainly no easy feat, but she got a lot of encouragement from some very popular NBA superstars. So, it is more than appropriate that Sports Illustrated Kids has given her the elite: The 2021 SportsKid of The Year!

The word that forever sealed her legacy in history was. "Murraya.". After spelling the word to clinch the win she said "I knew murraya because, as I'm sure I kind of implied, I'd always connected it with Bill Murray." Zaila is a gifted student and has already been offered a full ride from

LSU President, William F. TateSouthern University President Dr. Ray Belton

LOOK: 50 famous memes and what they mean

With the infinite number of memes scattered across the internet, it's hard to keep track. Just when you've grasped the meaning of one hilarious meme, it has already become old news and replaced by something equally as enigmatic. Online forums like Tumblr, Twitter, 4chan, and Reddit are responsible for a majority of meme infections, and with the constant posting and sharing, finding the source of an original meme is easier said than done. Stacker hunted through internet resources, pop culture publications, and databases like Know Your Meme to find 50 different memes and what they mean. While the almost self-replicating nature of these vague symbols can get exhausting, memes in their essence can also bring people closer together—as long as they have internet access.

Filed Under: Scripps National Spelling Bee, Sports Illustrated Kids, Zaila Avant-garde

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