WALDORF, Md. – The gym of Benjamin Stoddert Middle School was a hive of activity Wednesday evening when the top middle school spellers in the county stepped up to the mic for the 47th annual Charles County Spelling Bee.
Seven Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) middle schools were represented by a team of three students — save one that boosted two members. Students from county private schools and a home school co-op also participated.
In the end, the Final 5 spellers were Milton M. Somers Middle School sixth grader James Harper, seventh grade students Aruuke Rayeva of Archbishop Neale School (ANS), and Eli Woodall of Grace Lutheran School, and eighth graders Gavin Booker of Matthew Henson Middle School and Savannah McLaughlin of Mattawoman Middle School.
The final rounds were between Harper and Rayeva. They volleyed back and forth, but when Rayeva correctly spelled “farkleberry,” and Harper stumbled on “jettison,” in the ninth round, she only had to correctly spell one word to be crowded the 2025 champ. She did so with “allergenic.”
Rayeva will represent Charles County in the 2025 Scribbs National Spelling Bee, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The competition takes place in late May near Washington, D.C.
At the local level, ANS, coached by Laura Schreyer, took home a plaque for earning the most points in the March 5 competition with Rayeva receiving a $1,000 check from Bee sponsor Educational Systems Federal Credit Union and a trophy for being the top speller. The remaining finalists — Booker, Harper, McLaughlin and Woodall — each received a trophy. The Charles County Spelling Bee is sponsored by CCPS, the credit union and SMECO.
Students compete in school-level spelling bees to advance to the county contest. The team members and coaches for each school that competed are listed below.
- Theodore G. Davis Middle School — Xavier Obannon, Eliakim Quirante and David Regennitter. Coached by Delishia Deavis.
- John Hanson Middle School — Delante Nash Jr., and Jayde-Marie Tucker. Lindiwe McFarlane was unable to attend. Coached by Kimberle Johnson.
- Matthew Henson Middle School — Booker, Andrew Larkin and Malik Ndiaye. Coached by Debby Holder.
- Mattawoman Middle School — Alivia Lanier, McLaughlin and Demencio Calhoun. Coached by Chris Rubenstahl.
- Piccowaxen Middle School — Jayson Armstrong, Roman Brueckner and Olivia Hays. Coached by Amber Sullivan.
- General Smallwood Middle School — Montez Fiore, Eva Gonzalez and Emily McLeary. Coached by Shannon Elder.
- Benjamin Stoddert Middle School — Maximus Bailey, Saniyah Latimer and Ryker Widener. Coached by Taylor Covington.
- ANS — Rayeva, Eben Schlereth and Brandon Williams. Coached by Schreyer.
- Grace Lutheran School — Oliver Brown, Blair Mausen and Woodall. Coached by Curt Springer.
- Neighborhood Creative Arts Center Homeschool Co-op — Haley Adams, Basilio Benitez and Eze Edmund Onodugo. Coached by Georgia Bonney.
- Southern Maryland Christian Academy — Brennan Klemme, Angelo Milazzo and Savannah Slusher. Coached by Lanaya Ramsey.
- St. Peter’s School — Jeneva Anderson, Jacob Dewey and Isabella Pinola. Coached by Tina Wagner.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 28,162 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 38 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Mike Blanchard, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event. CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).