SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Lela Moser has made history in Scottsboro, Alabama, becoming the first Black valedictorian in Scottsboro High School’s 132-year history.
The 18-year-old scholar-athlete closed her senior year with a remarkable list of honors that reached far beyond the classroom. In addition to earning the school’s top academic ranking, Moser received the 2026 Balfour Award, Scottsboro High School’s highest non-academic honor.
She also gained statewide recognition as one of 52 Bryant-Jordan Scholar Athletes in Alabama, an honor celebrating students who excel in academics, athletics, leadership, and character.
Moser’s success extended to the track, where she built a powerful legacy as a seven-time state champion. Her 4×400 relay team first broke a 13-year school record during her junior year, then continued to surpass that mark multiple times. The team later set a new state record at the 2026 AHSAA championships in Gulf Shores.
Her next chapter will take her to Auburn University’s Samuel L. Ginn College of Engineering. Moser was named a Ginn Scholar, a prestigious award that covers tuition, fees, housing, and meals for up to five years.
Her achievement carries deep historical meaning for Scottsboro. Moser is the niece of Sam McCamey, who was the first Black student to integrate Scottsboro schools. He later played college basketball and was drafted by the Boston Celtics.
Now, another member of the family has written her own chapter in local history.
Moser’s rise is more than a personal victory. It is a powerful reminder of what happens when talent, discipline, opportunity, and determination meet. From the classroom to the track, she has shown younger students that excellence has no limits and history can still be made.