Nationwide — Lela Moser, an African American student from Scottsboro, Alabama, made school history as the first Black valedictorian at Scottsboro High School in its 132-year record. She also graduated with a wide list of academic and athletic honors that marked her senior year.
Alongside her valedictorian achievement, Moser received the 2026 Balfour Award, the school’s highest non-academic honor. She also stood out statewide after being named one of 52 Bryant-Jordan Scholar Athletes in Alabama, according to WAFF.
She added another milestone when she earned an Auburn Football Letterman Club Scholarship during a banquet in Birmingham. The recognition placed her among a select group of student-athletes honored for performance on and off the field.
Moser built her reputation through track and field, where she became a seven-time state champion. Her 4×400 relay team first broke a 13-year school record during her junior year, then went on to surpass it multiple times.
The same relay squad later set a new state record at the 2026 AHSAA championships in Gulf Shores. Her athletic run consistently placed her among the top performers in the state.
What’s more, Moser earned acceptance into Auburn University’s Samuel L. Ginn College of Engineering. She was also named a Ginn Scholar, a program that covers tuition, fees, housing, and meals for up to five years.
Her family includes Robert and Ledelphia Moser. Her uncle, Sam McCamey, previously made history as the first Black student to integrate Scottsboro schools and later played college basketball before being drafted by the Boston Celtics.