After displaying an incredible spelling prowess at the Scripps National Spelling Bee last week, Zaila Avant-garde has been fielding scholarship offers from several universities, Yahoo reports.
The 14-year-old phenomenon has received offers from three academic institutions in her native state of Louisiana. So far, Louisiana Community and Technical College System, Louisiana State University and Southern University have all offered Avant-garde full scholarships to their schools.
On Friday, Louisiana Community & Technical College System (LCTCS) in Baton Rouge, announced it would offer the Guinness world record holder a full ride to any school in their system.
“In celebration of her incredible performance at the National Spelling Bee, LCTCS is proud to offer Zaila Avant-garde a full scholarship to any Louisiana and technical college,” the Facebook post read. “We believe our programs, such as aerospace technology, would be a great fit for you."
William F. Tate IV, president of Louisiana State University, also extended an offer to Avant-garde for a full scholarship in a post on Twitter, praising her academic accomplishments.
"Zaila Avant-garde @basketballasart performed at the highest level in the National Spelling Bee,” he tweeted. “Your academic performance reflected scholarship first! You modeled intellectual excellence.@LSU_Honors awaits. I write to offer you a full scholarship to attend LSU. Here for you."
Zaila Avant-garde @basketballasart performed at the highest level in the National Spelling Bee. Your academic performance reflected scholarship first! You modeled intellectual excellence. @LSU_Honors awaits. I write to offer you a full scholarship to attend LSU. Here for you! pic.twitter.com/LopV3bdeWI
— William F. Tate IV (@WFTate4) July 10, 2021
Not to be outdone, Ray Belton, president of Southern University, is the latest school to offer Avant-garde a full scholarship. Belton also shared that his institution is planning to honor her with a “Zaila Day.”
“I am pleased to announce that @Southernu_BR is offering #ZailaAvantgarde a full scholarship and '#Zaila Day' at SU, part of the nation’s only #HBCU system,” his tweet read. “Our student leaders, faculty, and alumni look forward to meeting with you. We welcome you to the Jaguar Nation!”
I am pleased to announce that @Southernu_BR is offering #ZailaAvantgarde a full scholarship and "#Zaila Day" at SU, part of the nation’s only #HBCU system. Our student leaders, faculty, and alumni look forward meeting with you. We welcome you to the #JaguarNation! #WeAreSouthern
pic.twitter.com/4eeSI457yr— Ray L. Belton, Ph.D. (@SUSprez) July 10, 2021
As Blavity previously reported, Avant-garde competed against 208 other contestants from five countries to become the first Black American to win the grand prize. She won Thursday night's final by correctly spelling the word “murraya,” which is a type of tree.
"I'm feeling pretty good. I still can't quite believe that I won Scripps National Spelling Bee, so I'm still waiting for that to settle in," she told PEOPLE on the red carpet. "So I guess my weekend is gonna get even more exciting when I realize."
While the recruitments are in full swing, Avant-garde has already made known that she plans on attending Harvard University after high school.
