Montgomery Student Spotlights – February 2026

Trinity’s Change 4 Change program is proving that small acts can make a big difference.
Last semester, Trinity students raised more than $2,500 for First Choice, a local organization that supports women, children, and families in our community.
Change 4 Change is a student-led SGA initiative that encourages students to collect spare change over time, teaching stewardship, compassion, and responsibility while showing how generosity adds up. This meaningful effort reflects Trinity’s commitment to service as students put their faith into action and love their neighbors in tangible ways.

Academic excellence was on full display at Trinity’s annual Spelling Bee. Top spellers from grades 3–5 earned their place in the competition after advancing from their classrooms.
Fifth grader Piper Jones claimed the title of Spelling Bee Champion, with her sister Paige Jones, a third grader, finishing as runner-up—an impressive showing by both students. Piper will now advance to represent Trinity at the Regional Spelling Bee, highlighting the strong academic foundation Trinity students receive.
Events like the Spelling Bee reflect Trinity’s commitment to challenging students, celebrating achievement, and preparing learners to succeed in and beyond the classroom. We wish Piper the best of luck as she competes at the regional level!

Sixth graders at Trinity are exploring the wonders of space through hands-on science. During a recent unit on how we view space from Earth, students used spectroscopes and diffraction gratings to observe and analyze light.
By experimenting with these tools, students gained a deeper understanding of how scientists study stars, planets, and galaxies from afar. This interactive approach allows Trinity students to move beyond textbooks and engage directly with the scientific processes used in real-world research.
Experiences like this reflect Trinity’s commitment to inquiry-based learning, encouraging curiosity, critical thinking, and a love of discovery in the classroom.

ACA students, faculty, and staff came together for Serve Day with one shared purpose—to love and serve others. Across campus and throughout the community, our Eagles put faith into action by giving their time, energy, and hearts to help those around them.
Serve Day was a powerful reminder that service is more than an event at ACA; it’s part of who we are. Through teamwork and willing hands, our students learned that even small acts of kindness can make a big impact. We are proud of our ACA family for representing Christ so well and for showing what it truly means to serve others with joy.

ComingHome was made even more special as Alabama Christian Academy proudly honored three outstanding young men who represent the heart of our school community. This year’s ComingHome King, Jackson Burton, was celebrated alongside Prince Logan Foster and Prince George Crews during a night full of school spirit, smiles, and unforgettable memories.
Jackson Burton was crowned ComingHome King, an honor that reflects not only his leadership and character, but also the respect and admiration he has earned from his classmates and teachers. Standing proudly by his side were Prince Logan Foster and Prince George Crews, both of whom exemplify what it means to be an ACA Eagle through their positive attitudes, involvement, and kindness toward others.
Congratulations to ComingHome King Jackson Burton, Prince Logan Foster, and Prince George Crews! We are so proud of you all.

On January 13, the Montgomery Academy Upper School Chamber Chorus, led by Dr. Damion Womack, was invited by Gov. Kay Ivey to perform at the Alabama State Capitol in advance of her State of the State address. Gov. Ivey also recognized our chorus during her speech, which aired live on news outlets around the state. This invitation was a tremendous honor—congratulations to our talented students!

Montgomery Academy students Kim Ha Anh Tran and Anton Yang earned top honors at the 2025 Congressional App Challenge awards ceremony held at the Rosa L. Parks Museum and hosted by Representative Shomari Figures. Their app, Progress Tracker—a Kanban-inspired, web-based task management tool—stood out for its intuitive design and functionality. With this win, they will represent Montgomery Academy and Alabama at the national level. Special thanks to Dr. Tahsin Mullick for supporting their work!

MA’s Middle School boys basketball team defeated St. James 58–24 in the final game, and JV boys defeated Trinity 64–37 to claim this year’s CCC Tournament Championships! Athletes from all MA teams earned spots on the All-Tournament teams throughout the competition. Congratulations to all of our teams on an outstanding tournament performance!
Middle School Boys
Gaige Vinson, Tournament MVP
Tripp Searcy, All-Tournament
Doc McIntyre, All-Tournament
JV Boys
Vincent Desautels, Tournament MVP
Harris Armstrong, All-Tournament
Hampton Welch, All-Tournament
Middle School Girls
Davis Anne Fitzpatrick, All-Tournament
Rivers Bell, All-Tournament
Sydney Myles, All-Tournament
JV Girls
Maggie Bailey, All-Tournament
Ella Gaines Thomas, All-Tournament

In November and December, MA’s Speech & Debate team delivered impressive performances throughout the region. The team hosted the Big GUMP Classic on the Vaughn Road Campus and competed at the Prattville High Lion Classic, before closing out the calendar year with a road trip to New Orleans for the Isidore Newman Invitational. MA found success at every stop, including the Big GUMP Classic, which welcomed teams from Virginia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, Florida, and Alabama. More than 300 individual students competed over the course of the weekend, making the tournament one of the season’s highlights. Speak Eagles, speak!

Montgomery Academy Chess capped off a successful fall season with an appearance in the rookly.com Top Teams Tournament, featuring the best teams from all eight of the online platform’s fall leagues nationwide. Coached by Dr. Doug Strout, the team also finished third in its rookly.com league against schools from across the Southeast and placed an impressive 19th overall out of more than 200 schools competing in the Fall 2025 season. In the Top Teams Tournament, four players combined for 12 total wins, led by Bo Johnston with six, followed by Thomas Arrington with four, and one each from Aneesh Chinta and Will McKay. Additional team members who helped secure the team’s success throughout the season included John Bennett Lester, Colton Jeffers, Ryker Arthur, Sam Edwards, Bennett Petrunic, and Bae Rains. Congratulations!

A recent addition to the Advanced Anatomy Class at Success Unlimited Academy this semester is Bubba Bones! He’s quite an asset in that he is a constant visual aid of our own human bone structure. Mrs. Tullis Young is actually using Bubba, not only for Anatomy Class, but also for Biology and Chemistry and the interaction between those functions which affect the skeletal system. He really stands out in class.

ACA is excited to partner with our Panama mission team through a special stuffed animal drive! These small gifts will bring big smiles as they are shared with children and families during our upcoming mission work in Panama.
Stuffed animals offer comfort, joy, and a simple reminder that they are loved and remembered. Through this drive, our school community has the opportunity to be a tangible part of the mission by helping spread encouragement and kindness across borders.
Thank you to our students, families, and staff for supporting this effort and showing Christ’s love in such a meaningful way. Together, we are making a difference—one hug at a time.

Saint James School celebrated a standout showing on the court as both the JV Girls and Middle School Girls basketball teams captured CCC Tournament championships, continuing a tradition of excellence across the girls basketball programs.
The Saint James JV Girls basketball team earned its seventh consecutive CCC Tournament championship with a 58-27 victory over Trinity. Khloe Mitchell was named Tournament Most Valuable Player, while Londyn Swain, Kendall Dunson, and Elliette Barton were recognized as members of the All-Tournament Team for Saint James. Coaches praised the JV squad for its chemistry and unselfish play, noting that the group consistently plays for one another and exemplifies what it means to be great teammates.
Earlier in the tournament, the Saint James Middle School Girls basketball team claimed its fifth straight CCC Tournament championship with a 59-16 win over the Montgomery Academy Eagles. After trailing at the end of the first quarter, Saint James responded by scoring 20 points in the second quarter to take control of the game. The victory marked the Middle School team’s 42nd consecutive win over the past four seasons, a remarkable milestone for the program. Kennedy Dunson and Stella Williams were named Tournament Co-MVPs, and were joined on the All-Tournament Team by Lacey Green and Peyton Stewart. Coaches described the Middle School squad as a dynamic group that is exciting to watch and rewarding to coach, highlighting the team’s energy, discipline, and strong sense of unity.
Congratulations to both teams on outstanding tournament performances and for representing Saint James School with pride, teamwork, and competitive excellence.

Saint James School middle and high school students gathered for the annual Trojan Character Assembly, the third of the school’s quarterly core values assemblies. This long-standing tradition reinforces Saint James’ commitment to developing students of integrity, resilience, and purpose.
The featured speaker was Coach Hayden Stockton, who challenged students to rethink common ideas of self-esteem and courage. He encouraged students to understand that true self-esteem is not rooted in what others think, but in recognizing how it is built by overcoming hard things and growing through challenges. Coach Stockton shared that fear is not something to avoid, but something that can make a person braver, emphasizing that courage is often born in moments of uncertainty.
Throughout his remarks, Coach Stockton described courage not as a single bold act, but a daily choice. He defined courage as doing things that challenge, especially when uncomfortable. By approaching weakness as an opportunity for growth rather than something to hide, he challenged students to see courage as a pathway to confidence, strength, and self-respect.
Coach Stockton reminded students that courage often appears quietly, in small decisions made consistently over time. Choosing what is right, even when it is difficult or unpopular, builds character and reinforces personal values. His message connected directly to the school’s theme for the year, “Trojans on Purpose,” which invites the Saint James community to live intentionally and align actions with the school’s core values.
Trojan Character Assemblies are held each quarter and center on Saint James School’s four core values: character, commitment, courage, and community. These values are foundational to the Saint James mission and are woven throughout student life, curriculum, and leadership development. Through these shared experiences, Saint James prepares students not only for academic success, but for lives of responsibility, service, and meaningful impact.
Coach Hayden Stockton was recently named Trojan Football Head Coach and also serves as the strength and conditioning coach for boys and girls athletes in grades 7-12.

By Dr. Maggie McElroy-Washington, Principal. When people hear the term Artificial Intelligence or analytics in education, they often imagine complex systems designed far away from the classroom. At T.E.A. Christian Academy, our experience has been very different; our analytics is not about replacing teachers or reducing education to numbers. It is about using the information already inside our school to make better, faster, and more informed decisions for our students. That is where our analytics team comes in. T.E.A.’s Analytics Team turns School Data into Clear Insight. Every school should generate data every day—student progress, attendance patterns, lesson pacing, assessment results, and instructional outcomes. The challenge is not the lack of data; the challenge is making sense of it without adding more work for teachers.
Our analytics team helps us do exactly that, by using structured tools such as Talk, Read, Talk, Write (TRTW), which is a literacy-based instructional routine used to teach content across various subjects, particularly for English Learners; TRTW takes the information we already have and organizes it clearly while identifying patterns in student learning progress. TRTW highlights what is working and what needs to be adjusted. This tool allows teachers to spend less time assembling progress reports and to see where students’ support is needed early. This is especially important in a private school setting, where accountability, parent communication, and instructional excellence must all work together and are aligned with Cognia and Title I expectations. We are privileged to have such a dynamic Analytics Team to help us navigate this educational journey and stay on top of data without unnecessary paperwork. Thank you, Corky Reams, and Jimmie Ware, for providing the guidance needed for T.E.A. to continue “Taking an Extra Step Towards Educational Excellence!”

Congratulations are in order for the Spelling Bee winners at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School. Students across our campuses demonstrated strong preparation and confidence as they competed for top honors.
First place winners are Peter Walker at the St. Bede Campus, Karson Richardson at the Holy Spirit Campus, and Charlotte Lee at the Middle School Campus. Each earned the opportunity to represent Montgomery Catholic at the State Competition. Should a first-place winner be unable to compete, second place winners Kera Gould (St. Bede), Dominic Russo (Holy Spirit), and Logan Wilkerson (Middle School) will step in.
We are proud of these students and commend them for their academic achievement and dedication.

Our amazing Kindergarten class honored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a special project in celebration of his birthday.
The students read the story “Martin’s Big Words” by Doreen Rappaport and then worked hard to color, trace, and sequence important moments from Dr. King’s life. Through this activity, they learned about kindness, courage, and the power of using our words to make a difference.
We are so proud of our little scholars and their beautiful work!

Academy award-winning actress and proud MPS alumna Octavia Spencer returned home to Highland Avenue Elementary to read her book, Detective Dell Is on the Case, to a group of eager kindergartners. Scholars took home a signed copy of the book.

Our Kindergarten students had so much fun making School Bus Cookies using Oreo cookies, pretzels, graham crackers, frosting, and candy.

We had an absolutely magnificent Christmas Program last night titled “A Quizzical Christmas.” The acting, singing, dancing—every single part was AMAZING!
Our students truly shined and brought the spirit of Christmas to life with their talent, confidence, and joy. We are so incredibly proud of each and every one of them for such a wonderful performance!
Thank you to our teachers, staff, parents, and everyone who helped make this special night a success. What a beautiful way to celebrate the season!

Homecoming 2026 was especially significant this year as Success Unlimited Academy welcomed back 25 years of graduates! This academic year marks the 25th graduating class! The week of January 12-15, Homecoming Week, was filled with fun days of dress up, and culminated in a pep rally and basketball game! On Monday, students could dress as Mathletes or Athletes; on Tuesday, Disney vs. Nickelodeon was the costume challenge, Wednesday was Red Carpet Day and Thursday was Blue & Gold Day. All students, grades K4-12 participated in a pep rally held in the SUA gym led by the cheerleaders under the direction of Ms. Annah Nivens. Music, lights, games, a dance-off, and presentation of the 2025-26 Homecoming Court entertained students and teachers. Our 2026 Homecoming Queen, Miss Cydney Martin was crowned by Activities Director and Alumnae, Ms. Bethany Odle.

Evangel Christian Academy’s fifth grade class got to go on a week-long field trip to the STARBASE STEM Lab. Each day, students learned through hands-on projects and experiments. Some highlights included students learning about endothermic and exothermic reactions, buoyancy, engineering, and robotics. Life-long interests in STEM were formed over this wonderful week.

Mrs. Carter’s first and second graders are working on all things plants. The parts of the plant, how to grow them, and what they need. To further understand the amazingness of plants, each student was given a plant kit to start seeds indoors and had two weeks to care for the seeds they potted at home. The students were to bring the painted pots labeled back to school after that two weeks to see their progress and tell the class three facts about their plants. We will try to continue caring for their plants every day in class throughout the school year and they will take their plant home during the breaks. Please see everyone pictured holding their plants.

The George Washington Carver High School Band participated in the Martin Luther King, Jr. parade, celebrating his legacy and achievements.

Mrs. Hathcock’s K4 class recently celebrated a milestone by completing their first week of sight word instruction. Students reinforced their learning through a hands-on review activity using personal dry erase boards, making the experience both engaging and effective. Moments like these highlight how small achievements play a big role in fostering confidence and a love of learning in our youngest students.

Macon East Academy proudly congratulates Jamya Powell on achieving a remarkable milestone in her basketball career. With her latest performance, Jamya surpassed 1,000 career points as a Knight, an accomplishment attained by only two other players in school history—Beth Forrer and Madisyn Kennedy.
This historic achievement is a testament to Jamya’s consistency, dedication, and impact on the court. The Macon East community celebrates her continued success and the legacy she is building as a Knight.

Montgomery Christian School recently hosted its annual Christmas Music performance, delighting attendees with an evening filled with beautiful music and joyful celebration. Students showcased their talents through choir selections, handbell performances, and guitar pieces. The event drew a wonderful turnout, welcoming parents and families alongside board members and members of the community. Together, they enjoyed a memorable night celebrating the season and the students’ hard work.

Evangel Christian Academy Elementary celebrated Christmas with a program. Students worked hard to learn songs, dances, and lines to perform for their parents and guests. Younger elementary students performed songs and dances while older elementary students put on a musical show. Students enjoyed dressing up in their costumes and putting on their performances. We are so proud of ECA Elementary’s hard work!

We are excited to announce that Aubrey Blackwell will be returning to Montgomery Catholic as Head Football Coach. Coach Blackwell previously served in this role from 2015–2020 and was instrumental in building our football program into what it is today. During his six-year tenure at MCPS, he compiled a 54–19 record and led the Knights to five playoff appearances, including the program’s first-ever trip to the State Championship game.
School President Justin Castanza said, “Aubrey Blackwell is not just a familiar face and a tremendous football coach, but he is also the man responsible for launching the program he returns to lead. This is a beautiful homecoming in every way. Aubrey and his family will come home to Montgomery Catholic and continue what he and Daniel Veres started. Championship play became a Montgomery Catholic standard under his leadership, and that is exactly what we are excited to continue. The time is right!”
The MCPS community is eager to welcome Aubrey, Brandi, Will, and Kayla back to Montgomery Catholic. Athletic Director, Daniel Veres had the following to share, “I’m excited to be able to bring home my friend and the first head football coach I hired here at Catholic 11 years ago, Aubrey Blackwell. I could not think of a better family to bring back into our own. Brandi, Will, and Kayla are coming back to a place that helped them grow to where they are now. Selfishly, now I get to see the fruits of all their work and cheer for them again as Knights.”
Montgomery Catholic is excited to continue to build on the success that Aubrey began 11 years ago. “I am so excited to be coming back to Montgomery Catholic, a place that values my family as much as it does my work. When everyone is valued, excellence becomes inevitable. That’s why this opportunity matters so much to me,” said Blackwell. “Our success here was built together as a community, as one F.A.M.I.L.Y., and I am honored to continue building it alongside the people I love and respect. When respect, appreciation, and purpose align, saying yes is easy. Being a part of something we’ve grown together makes this more than a job – it makes it meaningful. I accept this role with commitment, gratitude, and pride in a culture that puts people first and with the community that we hold close to our hearts. I cannot wait to have our former Knights on the sidelines and involved in our program. I am sure people will question some of my coaching decisions that I have made over the last few years. Decisions that affected my family, my friends, and the other schools that invested in me. Each school has been a crucial step that has helped me grow as a coach, father, and husband and I am grateful for each of them.
Ultimately this all led to being guided to have my family back home at Montgomery Catholic. This isn’t just where I work, It’s where my family and I belong and where we plan on planting our roots for a long time.”

We had a merry Christmas at Evangel Christian Academy! Elementary students at ECA enjoyed “Cookies with Santa”- a time to color, play, eat cookies, and, of course, meet Santa Claus! Students got to take a picture with Santa while wearing their Christmas pajamas.

It was a time to celebrate The Reason for the Season, as well as the end of the second 9-week grading period. The students did an amazing job as they celebrated The Reason for the Season. Mrs. Bonnie Robinson, one of the English teachers, has the students write an Essay highlighting Christmas. The winner was Kaleb Holt, who followed all of the directions given, including citing his sources. He presented his essay at the program and was presented with a monetary gift.
As a part of the program, the students presented a concert with a series of Christmas carols as well as traditional Gospel songs. The program included 4 winners from elementary, middle, and high school, who entered into a fundraising popcorn contest. The winners received money; the 4th place winner was Kaleb Holt; Sniah Parker, 3rd place winner; Cydnee Dixon, the second-place winner; and the first-place winner was Joel Howze, a middle school student.
Daniel Barlow, the music director and teacher, did an outstanding job leading and directing the choir, with the assistance of the lead teacher, Bonnie Robinson, who also coordinated the program. Parent, Yolanda Dixon, prepared a tasty 7 Course meal for the stakeholders. This was also a time for the stakeholders to mingle, which fosters trust, collaboration, and a shared commitment to the success of the students, while also supporting the school’s mission. Dr. Maggie McElroy Washington, the principal, gave words of gratitude, and encouraged everyone to not wait until Christmas to show love, but it should be shown year round. Additionally, she thanked the parents for supporting their children because it changes their mindset to a winning mindset.

About forty students at Success Unlimited Academy recently auditioned for tech positions and acting roles in the spring play which will be performed on April 16, 2026 in Hawkins Hall. Actors have begun “table work” which includes character analysis as the actresses explore both the vulnerability and the resiliency of their characters. Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling is a southern tragicomedy revolving around small town life in Louisiana. Six female characters carry the play and the interaction among them is warm and funny, but not without conflict. The plot is based on the author’s real life experiences and the loss of a family member. Secrets, gossip, scandal, humor, tears, and laughter are all part of the tapestry of the universal human experience.

Montgomery Christian School is excited to announce the ongoing opening of its Middle School program. The expansion will continue with the addition of a 7th grade next school year, followed by the introduction of an 8th grade the year after. This growth reflects MCS’s commitment to providing a strong education in a Christian environment to families with limited school choice as they continue their academic journey. Families can look forward to new opportunities designed to support students during these important developmental years.

Students in kindergarten through second grade at Montgomery Christian School begin each morning with intentional movement to support learning and development. Each day starts with 20 minutes of Neuro Net, a program designed to strengthen coordination, focus, and brain development. This daily routine helps prepare students’ minds and bodies for a successful day of learning. Montgomery Christian School extends a heartfelt thank you to the Working Women’s Home Association for generously funding this movement initiative.