Central Private Crowns Ava Bradford As Its 2025-2026 Homecoming Queen

Senior Ava Bradford was crowned as Central Private Homecoming Queen for 2025-2026 during ceremonies at the school on Friday, Oct. 24.  Crowning her majesty was 2024 Queen Ava Buxton. Members of the Court were:

• Avery McCartney – From the freshman class is Avery McCartney. Avery is the daughter of Kevin and Alyssa McCartney. She was escorted by her father, Mr. Kevin McCartney. Her favorite subject is geometry. Avery has attended Central Private for 11 years, beginning in Pre-K4. 

Avery is an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where she serves as the Second Counselor in her youth group. At Central Private, she is a member of the Beta Club and secretary of the National Junior Honor Society. She plays on both the freshman and junior varsity volleyball teams. She previously played junior varsity basketball, where she earned the Redhawk Award in 8th grade. Avery has also played varsity softball since 7th grade, earning First-Team All-District Catcher and the Silver Slugger Award, while leading the team in batting average for two consecutive years. She has played competitive softball with Lady Fury since age eight, helping her team win seven open-class state and national championships.

After graduation, Avery plans to play softball at the collegiate level and pursue a degree in nursing. 

Something you may not know about Avery is that four days a week, she wakes up at 5 a.m. to attend early morning scripture study before school, which she says helps her start each day with a positive attitude. When asked what she loves most about Central Private, Avery said, “The small environment and having close relationships with everyone.” She is excited to be on Homecoming Court this year alongside her cousin, Ava. 

• Aubrey Lane Watts – Also from the freshman class is Aubrey Lane Watts. Aubrey Lane is the daughter of Lane and Angel Watts. She was escorted by her father, Mr. Lane Watts. 

Her favorite subject is science. Aubrey Lane has attended Central Private for 10 years, beginning in kindergarten. 

She is an active member of Cornerstone Church and its youth group, as well as a member of the Beta Club, and National Junior Honor Society. She is a leader of the Middle School Girls Bible Study. Aubrey Lane plays varsity softball and high school volleyball. In her free time, she enjoys playing softball with Maniax, spending time with family and friends, and hanging out with her Maw Maw Lucy and Paw Paw Gary.

After graduation, Aubrey Lane plans to play softball at the col-legiate level, attend Ole Miss, go to Physicians Assistant school, and eventually build a home next door to her mom and dad. Before Lane was born, her parents thought she was a boy—so she didn’t have a name for four days until her daddy chose one for her. When asked what she loves most about Central Private, she said, “Everyone feels like family—and Mrs. Misty’s crispitos.” 

• Allie Gibbs – Representing the Sophomore Class is Allie Gibbs.Allie is the daughter of Derrick and Lacy Gibbs, Allie was escorted by Mr. Derrick Gibbs. Her favorite school subject is math. She has attended Central Private since Pre-K4. 

Allie is a member of the Beta Club and plays on the basketball team and varsity softball team. In her free time, she enjoys playing sports, hunting, and hanging out with friends. After graduation, she plans to attend college and earn a doctor of physical therapy degree. She wants to specialize in sports medicine.

Allie participated in beauty pageants when she was little and won the “Little Miss Louisiana Baby Petite” when she was a year old. When asked what she loves most about Central Private, she said, “the boudin eggrolls and the family-like atmosphere.” 

• Stella Claire Simmons – From the Sophomore Class is Stella Claire Simmons, the daughter of 

Trez and Claire Simmons, She was escorted by her grandfather, Mr. Mike Kent. Her favorite subject is math. She has attended Central Private for four years. 

Stella is a member of the Beta Club and enjoys playing varsity volleyball and tennis. In her free time, she loves hunting and hanging out with her friends and family. 

After graduation, she plans to attend BRCC and join their nursing program with hopes of being an ultrasound tech.

Stella and her family take a two-week trip each summer to different states with a goal of reaching all 50. They have 8 more to go! When asked what she loves most about Central Private, she said, “I love all of the friends I have made and all of the memories we’ve created together.” 

• Allie Elizabeth Petit – From the junior class is Allie Elizabeth Petit, the daughter of Wilmer and Kelli Petit. She was escorted by her father, Mr. Wilmer Petit. Her favorite subjects are math and biology. Allie has attended Central Private for three years.

Allie is a member of Zoar Bap-tist Church and participates in both volleyball and softball at Central Private. She also plays club volley-ball and is a member of the Beta Club. In her free time, Allie enjoys riding dirt bikes with her brother and hunting with her family. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in the medical field where she can work with children.

Allie was born with a cleft palate and has undergone 16 surgeries. Allie says what she loves most about Central Private is the strong sense of community and  the opportunity to openly share the Gospel and talk about God. 

• London Claire Simmons – From the junior class is London Claire Simmons, the daughter of Claire and Trez Simmons. She was escorted by her father, Mr. Trez Simmons. 

London is a member of the varsity volleyball team, the Beta Club, Volleyball of Baton Rouge, and the Redhawk Screech. In her free time, she enjoys reading, creating flower arrangements, and spending time with her friends. After graduation, she plans to attend Louisiana Tech University.

Something people may not know about London is that she has visited Kanye West’s childhood home in Chicago. When asked what she loves most about Central Private, London said, “Mrs. Angel’s 7th hour Dual Enrollment class.”

• Ava Grace Bradford – Rep-resenting the senior class is Ava Grace Bradford, the daughter of Gordon and Alison Bradford. Ava was escorted by Mr. Gordon Bradford. Her favorite school subject is sports medicine with Mrs. Winkler. She has attended Central Private since K-4. 

Ava is captain of the varsity cheer team, treasurer of the Senior Class, secretary of the Beta Club, member of National Honor Society and the Principal’s Student Advisory Leadership Team, co-founder of the Spirit Squad, and president of her youth group at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. 

In her free time, she enjoys cheering, shopping, traveling, and going on late night Sonic runs with Rory. After graduation, she plans to attend LSU to study physical therapy.

Something you should know about Ava is that she went noodling for the first time over the summer and caught a 30 lb. catfish with her bare hands. When asked what she loves most about Central Private, she said, “Making so many amazing friendships over the years.”

• Rory Lee Forbes – Senior maid Rory is the daughter of Remmy and Melanie Forbes. She was escorted by her father, Mr. Remmy Forbes. Her favorite subject is Ms. Burner’s anatomy class. Rory has attended Central Private since Pre-K3, marking 15 years as a Central Private student. 

Rory is captain of the varsity Volleyball Team, treasurer of the Beta Club, and a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council, Principal’s Student Advi-sory Leadership Team, and 4-H. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and taking late-night Sonic runs with her friend Ava.

After graduation, she plans to pursue a degree in cosmetology.

Rory was once kicked in the face by a cow—and her mom still made her go to school the next day with two black eyes! Rory says what she loves most about Central Private are the lifelong friendships she has made since she was three years old and the faith-based environment that makes the school feel like home.

• Addyson Elaine Sides – Our final senior maid was Addyson Elaine Sides, the daughter of Karen Sides, Addyson was escorted by Ms. Karen Sides. Her favorite school subject is math.  She attended Central Private during PreK4-K and returned for 9th through 11th grade. 

Addyson attends Zoar Baptist Church, is a member of the Beta Club, and plays for the No. 1 tournament volleyball team in Louisiana and the #22 team in the U.S. In her free time, she enjoys playing volleyball and hanging out with friends.

After graduation, she plans to pursue a collegiate volleyball career and attend dental school.

Something you may not know about Addyson is that she can drive a stick shift. When asked what she loves most about Central Private, she said, “The close-knit environment that allows long-term bonds.”

The 2024 Central Private Homecoming Queen, Miss Ava Buxton, attends Southeastern Louisiana University where she majors in nursing. She definitely makes CP proud!

See centralprivate.org