By Stacy M. Brown

NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

@StacyBrownMedia

Zaila Avant-garde twirled around in a spin, her smile radiating from the clear braces covering her teeth as confetti fell from the ceilings.

The 14-year-old from Harvey, La., had reason to twirl and spin, and most importantly, she had more than enough reasons to smile.

After spelling the word “Murraya,” a genus of tropical Asiatic and Australian trees, Zaila became the first African American to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Continue reading 14-Year-old Becomes First African American to Win Scripps National Spelling Bee at The New Journal and Guide.