Connect with us

Education

Zaila Avant-garde becomes first African American to win Scripps spelling bee

Zaila Avant-garde, a 14-year-old from New Orleans, Louisiana, won the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday, becoming the first African American contestant to win in 93 editions of the competition.

Unheard Voices Magazine

Published

on

Zaila Avant-garde, a 14-year-old from New Orleans, Louisiana, won the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday, becoming the first African American contestant to win in 93 editions of the competition.

Zaila Avant-garde dominates at the spelling bee

She won by spelling the word “Murraya”.

The only previous Black champion was also the only international winner: Jody-Anne Maxwell of Jamaica in 1998.

The bee, however, has still been a showcase for spellers of color over the past two decades, with kids of South Asian descent dominating the competition.

Zaila’s win breaks a streak of at least one Indian American champion every year since 2008.

Subscribe to UVM

* indicates required

Intuit Mailchimp

She’s a history maker

Aside from being sharp in spelling, the teen holds prowess in basketball as well.

Zaila Avant-garde is a basketball prodigy who owns three Guinness world records for dribbling multiple basketballs simultaneously and hopes to one day play in the WNBA or even coach in the NBA.

Following her win, when asked what she attributes her early success in the competition to, Zaila responded, “Well, for one thing, I didn’t have any more time to succeed,” referring to the fact that it was her last year for eligibility. Turns out, not only is Zaila incredibly smart and talented, she’s also a bit of a comedian herself.

See also  Miracle 2 and Miracle 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On how she felt about winning the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee, Zaila stated, “Really good. I mean, I was a bit surprised. I’ve been warned about the confetti.”

Congratulations Zalia Avant-garde


----------------------------------------------------------
Connect with Unheard Voices on Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube

Download the app on Google Play or ITunes.
----------------------------------------------------------
Unheard Voices Magazine is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.

Unheard Voices is an award-winning news magazine that started in 2004 as a local Black newsletter in the Asbury Park, Neptune, and Long Branch, NJ areas to now broaden into a recognized Black online media outlet. They are the recipient of the NAACP Unsung Hero Award and CV Magazine's Innovator Award for Best Social Justice Communications Company.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

0 Comments

  1. Pingback: Nike Stands By Sha’Carri Richardson, Praises Her ‘Accountability’

Leave a Reply

Culture

“Philly in Paris” Collective needs your help to send Philly youth to Paris

Philly in Paris: Youth Travel Abroad” was formed and created as a hands-on and innovative solution to the violence epidemic that Philly youth face.

Unheard Voices Magazine

Published

on

Philly in Paris: Youth Travel Abroad

Philly in Paris is seeking the public’s support in sending some Philadelphia youth to Paris.

About Philly in Paris

The collective supports youth with violent prevention and conflict resolution through travel.

Organizers are looking to give the youth cultural experiences that include history tours, museums, and leadership development activities.

“Philly in Paris: Youth Travel Abroad” was formed and created as a hands-on and innovative solution to the violence epidemic that Philly youth face.

Subscribe to UVM

* indicates required

Intuit Mailchimp

Led by various organizations and individuals, the collective’s goal is to take Philly’s youth on global excursions, beginning with Paris, to increase their exposure to the world and the world’s exposure to them.

GoFundMe

“We believe that in helping young people to explore diverse perspectives through travel, we can contribute to peacebuilding in Philadelphia”, the GoFundMe reads.

The GoFundMe outlines expenses such as airfare, lodging, and ground transportation.

To learn more about the initiative and to donate, visit the GoFundMe.


----------------------------------------------------------
Connect with Unheard Voices on Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube

Download the app on Google Play or ITunes.
----------------------------------------------------------
Unheard Voices Magazine is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
See also  In Memoriam: Saxophonist Jimmy Castor dies at 71

Continue Reading

Education

The College Gurl Foundation inspires underserved minorities to pursue higher education opportunities

The College Gurl Foundation inspires underserved minorities to pursue higher education opportunities.

Unheard Voices Magazine

Published

on

The College Gurl Foundation College tour
GoFundMe

The College Gurl Foundation (CGF) was founded by Jessica Brown in 2017 to support underserved minority students within Washington, DC by providing them their first experience with college, educational programs, scholarships, recreational programs, and mentorship opportunities that create life-changing experiences.

About The College Gurl Foundation (CGF) and college tour

Since 2017, CGF has partnered with AT&T, Dark & Lovely, DC DOES Office of Youth Program, and the Department of Parks and Recreation. As a result of the impactful work, CGF has awarded over $150,000 in scholarships, has a 100% graduation rate from high school, 90% enrollment in college, and 10% of our students have secured professional careers.

GoFundMe

The College Gurl Foundation (CGF) is raising funds for the annual college tour.

Subscribe to UVM

* indicates required

Intuit Mailchimp

“The goal of this tour is to inspire underserved minority DMV students to pursue higher education opportunities as many of our students are the first in their families to consider college,” the GoFundMe reads.

This year, the organization aims to provide 26 students the opportunity to attend the 6 institution visit tour in the Southeast region, giving them a real-world experience of campus life and the possibilities that higher education can offer.

See also  Maya Angelou will be honored with Forever Stamp

“We are hoping to raise $50,000 to cover for travel, lodging, activities, and food accommodations. Our students are from underserved areas within the Washington Metropolitan area. Hence, without CGF they will not have the opportunity to experience this.”

For this initiative, CGF has started a GoFundMe. If you wish to support this worthy cause, please visit the fundraiser here.


----------------------------------------------------------
Connect with Unheard Voices on Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube

Download the app on Google Play or ITunes.
----------------------------------------------------------
Unheard Voices Magazine is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.

Continue Reading

Education

Texas educator blinded following student incident, GoFundMe started

Texas educator Candra Rogers was seriously injured by a student during a classroom altercation, making her lose her right eye. A GoFundMe has been started to help with recovery expenses.

Unheard Voices Magazine

Published

on

Candra Rogers
Candra Rogers (Photo Source: GoFundMe)

On August 15, Texas educator Candra Rogers was seriously injured by a student during a classroom altercation, making her lose sight in her right eye. A GoFundMe has been started to help with recovery expenses.

“This is an arduous situation and will take time. Please continue to pray for me, my family, my school, and my district, even the child who caused this incident and his family,” the fundraiser reads.

TX Educator Loses Sight in Right Eye

Rogers, an assistant principal at at Collins Intermediate School, was responding to a call for assistance from a behavioral teacher when she found one student who had reportedly been assaulted by a classmate outside the classroom with the teacher and other students.

Upon entering the classroom, Rogers encountered an “irate” student in a “ransacked” room. Despite her attempts to de-escalate the situation, the student threw multiple chairs and ultimately a wooden hanger. The hanger struck Rogers in the right eye and knocked it out of its socket, causing Rogers to be airlifted to a Dallas hospital for emergency surgery. School officials released the student into the custody of his parents and have prohibited him from returning to campus.

Subscribe to UVM

* indicates required

Intuit Mailchimp

“I grabbed my face while blood was pouring out of my head and stumbled out of the classroom door,” Rogers recounted in a press conference. Doctors were able to reinsert her eye, but they believe the damage is permanent, and Rogers may ultimately lose the eye entirely.

See also  Meet Kwasi Enin : 17-year-old Long Island Student Accepted To All 8 Ivy League Schools

“I will have to have an additional surgery to repair my eyelid, and because doctors are believing my blindness to be permanent, removing my eye may have to be an option,” Rogers said. “I still believe in God for a miracle for restoration of my sight.”

Rogers has been surrounded by her loving husband and children as they help her during this difficult, trying recovery process.

To donate towards Rogers recovery, visit the GoFundMe page here.


----------------------------------------------------------
Connect with Unheard Voices on Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube

Download the app on Google Play or ITunes.
----------------------------------------------------------
Unheard Voices Magazine is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.

Continue Reading

Facebook

Tags

Archives

unheard voices shop
unheard voices on google play unheard voices on itunes

Trending