Payton Thomas, a sixth-grade student at Temple Christian Academy, recently participated in the Alabama Christian Education Association’s annual academic competition at the state level, and came in first place in the history category.

Payton competed against 25 other sixth-grade students from other ACEA member schools. ACEA has a total of 837 students from 27 schools that participated in the competition this year.

Payton will receive a ribbon at the 2013-14 ACEA State, Academic, Bible and Jr./Sr. High Art Competition, which will be held at Tabernacle Christian School in Gardendale on Friday, Jan. 31.

Payton is the daughter of Kevin and Stacey Thomas of Atmore and has attended Temple Christian Academy since kindergarten.

Temple Christian Academy, a ministry of Atmore Baptist Temple, is a private Christian school that has ministered to the educational needs of families in the Atmore area since 1993.