In a dramatic scene in the movie, “Hidden Figures”, Mary Jackson, in her plea to have the right to take night classes in the local all white high school in Virginia so that she could be the first female of color as an engineer at NASA, says to the judge, “ Your Honor, now you of all people should understand the importance of being first.” She then goes through the moments in time in his career where he was the first, making the connection that she too wants to join that number. As a second year secondary education teacher, I did not see myself as being the “first” at anything here at SMCA. SMCA has a very proud and diverse history of success both academically and in athletics. Yet, here I am, a part of SMCA’s FIRST Championship Spelling Bee Team. We had a team of five, with three boys and two girls. Our top speller, a 7th grader (Landon Posey), two alternates spelling alongside him, 6th graders (Theresa Milazzo and Nobel Winters) , and one 7th grade (Addison Huffer) and the lone 8th grader (Luke Crawford) prepared to step in if called upon. We were ready. Mrs. Kelly Gheen ensured this would be the case. Regularly, meeting with them, practicing on Wednesdays and several Fridays. We arrived at the Spelling Bee not knowing what to expect except that God would be with us. Win or lose. I remember telling them that we, SMCA, were already proud of them, and we knew that just being there was the providence of God. God showed up. Our team stayed strong for 5 rounds ending the team portion of the Bee, securing our win. We even had one finalist. What excites me most is that we have a young team. Two 6th graders in the top three of our Championship Spelling Bee Team. The sky really is the limit. What won’t ever happen again though, win or lose in the coming years, no one will ever be first. God did that. Congratulations Spelling Bee Championship team of 2023-2024! We were the FIRST. The school was honored with a plaque that will be hung in the school for the entire year with Southern Maryland Christian Academy’s name placed among all the middle schools in Charles County who have won as a team. Praise the Lord!

–Mrs. Lanaya Ramsey, Secondary Reading/ English Teacher