ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. — On March 1, 2025, St. Mary’s College of Maryland turned its campus into a battlefield of brainpower, hosting the 17th Annual Southern Maryland Brain Bee. Fourteen high schoolers from across the region squared off in a neuroscience showdown, flexing their gray matter in a contest that’s been sparking curiosity since alum Anne Marie Brady launched it in 2008. From whiteboards to winners, this year’s event—sanctioned by the International Brain Bee—proved the next generation’s ready to unravel the mind’s mysteries.
The competition unfolded in three brain-busting rounds. First up: a broad sweep of neuroscience basics, from neurons to synapses. Round two zeroed in on anatomy—think cerebrum versus cerebellum—testing who could map the brain’s highways. The finale dove deep, grilling contestants on niche topics like neuroplasticity.
Emcee Leonardo Montenegro ‘25 fired off questions, giving each teen 30 seconds to scribble answers on whiteboards. Judges—Hara Collins ‘26, Em Allen ‘27, Alba Gonzalez Ventura ‘25, Jayden Washington ‘25, Christina Rutherford ‘25, and Elise Kinyanjui ‘25—tallied scores with hawk-eyed precision, crowning both individual and team champs.
Allie C. from Great Mills High School stole the solo spotlight, nailing first place and pocketing $500 to jet off to the USA Brain Bee at Rutgers University. Her school’s team doubled the glory, topping the group round. Every attendee snagged a raffle ticket, but the big prizes—fit for brainiac royalty—went to Great Mills’ victors. Behind the scenes, Associate Professor Elizabeth Leininger, PhD, Neuroscience Department Chair, orchestrated the affair with her “Brainiacs”—a crew of neuroscience and psychology students grinding since January to make it seamless.
This wasn’t just a quiz—it was a legacy moment. Brady, a 1993 St. Mary’s grad, kicked off the SOMD Brain Bee, inspired by the International Brain Bee’s founder, Norbert Myslinski, PhD. Now a global pipeline—over 40 countries compete, per the IBB site—it’s hooked thousands on neuroscience. Locally, it’s a Southern Maryland staple, drawing talent from 16 high schools last year alone, per college records. For Great Mills, it’s a repeat triumph—they’ve nabbed top spots before, a nod to the region’s STEM chops.
The Brain Bee’s more than bragging rights—it’s a launchpad. Allie’s Rutgers trip could catapult her to the world stage, where champs dissect real brains and win scholarships. Back home, St. Mary’s is already eyeing 2026—students keen to join the Brainiacs can sign up for NEUR 399 next spring. For now, the 17th edition’s in the books, proving Maryland’s teens are wired for greatness.
