WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate passed S.Res. 311, a resolution introduced by U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and John Kennedy (R-LA) to congratulate Scripps National Spelling Bee champion Zaila Avant-garde. Miss Avant-garde is the first Louisianan and African-American to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
“Zaila Avant-garde is an incredible 14-year-old young lady from Louisiana. Proud to see the Senate formally recognize her impressive national spelling bee victory,” said Dr. Cassidy. “She is the best. She has a bright future.”
“The Senate just formally recognized the incredible achievement of Zaila Avant-garde, Louisiana’s first champion of the National Spelling Bee. Kids and education are the key to our future, and it’s a joy to celebrate Zaila’s excellence!” said Senator Kennedy.
Following her spelling bee win, Cassidy and Kennedy introduced the resolution on July 12, 2021.
Earlier this month, Cassidy spoke on the Senate Floor congratulating Avant-garde and offering her a D.C. Senate internship as well.
Read the full resolution here or below.
Congratulating the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion Zaila Avant-garde.
Whereas Miss Zaila Avant-garde is a 14-year-old from Harvey, Louisiana;
Whereas Miss Avant-garde is the first winner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee from the State of Louisiana;
Whereas the Scripps National Spelling Bee is the largest and longest-running educational promotion in the United States and is administered by the E.W. Scripps Company and local sponsors, most of whom publish daily and weekly newspapers;
Whereas the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee began with competitors from across the United States, American Samoa, the Bahamas, Canada, Europe, Guam, Jamaica, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, and each competitor had qualified for the contest by winning locally sponsored spelling bees;
Whereas Miss Avant-garde is the first African American to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee;
Whereas Miss Avant-garde has spent most of her days spelling around 13,000 words per day, yet has still found time to become an accomplished basketball player and holds 3 Guinness World Records;
Whereas Miss Avant-garde survived several rounds of fierce competition this year and won the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee by correctly spelling ‘‘murraya’’; and
Whereas the achievement of Miss Avant-garde brings an immense sense of pride to her hometown of Harvey and the entire State of Louisiana: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate congratulates the 2021 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion Zaila Avant-garde.
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