A happy start to your day

The first link is a video of her winning. (and this is just a side hobby of hers)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2021/jul/09/zaila-avant-garde-wins-scripps-national-spelling-bee-video

***

African American spelling bee champ Zaila Avant-garde makes history with flair

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/louisiana-teen-zaila-avant-garde-breezes-national-spelling-bee-win-n1273438

July 8, 2021, 9:26 PM CDT / Updated July 9, 2021, 5:35 AM CDT
By The Associated Press

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

"Only one word gave her trouble: “nepeta,” a genus of mints, and she jumped even higher when she got that one right than she did when she took the trophy."

"The in-person crowd was limited to spellers’ immediate family, Scripps staff, selected media — and first lady Jill Biden, who spoke to the spellers and stayed to watch."