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Zaila Avant-garde: Spelling Bee Champ Turns Author, Scholar

10/9/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Zaila Avant-garde became first African American winner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2021.
She now attends the University of Maryland on a Banneker-Key Scholarship, studying cell biology and molecular genetics.
She is also an author, working on her sixth book about self-confidence and time management.
Her winning word was "murraya," which she linked humorously to Bill Murray.

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Story summary

Zaila Avant-garde became first African American winner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2021.
She now attends the University of Maryland on a Banneker-Key Scholarship, studying cell biology and molecular genetics.
She is also an author, working on her sixth book about self-confidence and time management.
Her winning word was "murraya," which she linked humorously to Bill Murray.