Congratulations, my sweet Emma! What an incredible honor it is to be chosen as the 2025 Homecoming Queen! This truly is a direct reflection of the joy, kindness, and light you bring to everyone around you. Just as it is a privilege for you to be selected, it is a privilege for me to write this letter about someone who means so much to me.
From the very first time I met you at JV Cheer practice, I knew there was something so special about you. Your sense of humor and ability to make everyone laugh are unmatched. Whether on the sidelines at a game or walking through Disney on a DECA trip listening to your “Emma-isms”, you’ve brought so much joy and laughter to every moment. I will never forget taking you home from a team dinner one night, and in true Emma fashion, you somehow managed to spill your entire box of leftover pizza in the floorboard of my car – leaving me laughing so hard that I had pain in my side. Moments like that are exactly why I treasure every memory with you.
While your humor is one of my favorite things about you, that is not the only thing that makes you special and deserving of this honor. You are incredibly loyal, genuine, kind, and you have a true gift for making people feel loved. As a DECA officer, a teammate, and a friend, you have been a leader not just by what you do, but by the way you encourage others. You embody the very best of what it means to be a Cedar Creek student.
Proverbs 3:6 says, “In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.” I can’t wait to see what the next chapter of life has in store for you and the success it will bring. I am so proud of you and am so very thankful for the blessing you have been in my life. Always keep laughing, spreading joy, and being the “Erma” that makes the world a brighter place. I love you, BIG!
“Mommy Merch”
(Ms. Hope Merchant)
Dear Britton,
Congratulations on this incredible honor! I could not be more proud of the beautiful person you are both inside and out. I hope you enjoy every minute of this experience, because it is so well deserved. Your peers chose you because you represent our school so well, and I couldn’t agree with them more.
I spent weeks trying to find the right words for this letter, and it was more difficult than I expected. Not because I couldn’t write for days about how special you are, but because there’s just so much I could say. There are plenty of sentimental words I could use, and even more funny ones, but there was one word I kept coming back to, and that is blessing. You truly are a blessing to everyone around you, and I feel so blessed to be one of the people in your corner.
You are fiercely loyal to your friends and family. You are a natural leader who is driven, dedicated, and willing to work harder than almost anyone I know. Never doubt yourself, Britton, because you have what it takes to do great things. You have a kind and generous heart. You’re nurturing and compassionate, and you care deeply for others while also pushing everyone around you to be better. You’re also incredibly funny and wise beyond your years, and it’s been such a joy to experience all of that firsthand on so many DECA trips.
I know this letter also marks the beginning of the end of your time at Cedar Creek, and that is very bittersweet to write. While it’s hard to see you go, I’m so excited to see the amazing plans the Lord has for you. I’m proud of the joy, faith, and determination you bring to everything you do. Keep being yourself, stay grounded in your faith, and let your kindness continue to point others toward Him. As you take this next step, may your light keep shining brightly wherever you go.
“Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.” — Philippians 2:15
So, as sad as I am to see you move on, go be great, Britton! Never doubt your abilities and never lose your love for those around you. Keep pushing yourself forward but also remember to look back from time to time, because when you do, you will still see us cheering you on from the sidelines. I hope you will always carry Cedar Creek with you in your heart, because you will always be in ours!
With Love,
Caty Simmons
Do you know Caroline James? She’s hard to miss. And I hate to brag, but I knew her before she was cool. (I teach in elementary, so I know everyone before they are cool.) I started working at Cedar Creek 18 years ago, and on August 21, 2007, just two weeks in, I took my very first day off to babysit Caroline’s older sister while Caroline was being born. My earliest memories of Caroline include Caroline dressed up as a tap-dancing duckling, Caroline dressed up as Yoda–just for fun, and Caroline dressed up as Mary, the mother of Jesus, for the kindergarten Nativity program.
Did I mention that I was Caroline James’s kindergarten teacher? I’m sure you were wondering why she’s so smart. Teaching family members can be a bit tricky, but Caroline was and is easy to teach. As Katie Garcia puts it, she’s “coachable,” which is such a valuable, and yet, increasingly rare attribute.
Did you know that Caroline was saved by Christ? Well, if you are her friend, classmate, teammate, teacher, coach, or acquaintance then yes–you do. Because she has made sure of it. Caroline made her profession of faith in Christ when she was a kindergartener. She walked the aisle in church on a Sunday and on Monday–Day 1 of her new life in Christ–she was desperately and passionately trying to lead all her five-year-old classmates to repentance and salvation. She’s never been one to waste time, and her desire to share the abundant life she has in Christ has only increased in intensity. What did you do over Fall Break? I slept in. Caroline James traveled halfway around the world to tell people about Jesus.
Do you know what it’s like to have Caroline James on your side? If you’re traveling with Caroline James, you might find yourself following her down the street in the middle of Paris as she leads you to a quaint, little café where you will have the best cup of hot chocolate on the planet. If Caroline James is on your team, you will most definitely be in the state semi-finals, and you might be knocked down when she hugs you after making the winning shot at the last minute. And… if you happen to be an overwhelmed Cedar Creek teacher who has exactly seven days before school starts to move into a new classroom, then I hope, for Heaven’s sake, that you are related to Caroline James. Because if you are, she will spend her last days of her last high school summer painting bookshelves in your room and figuring out how in the world you categorize your 1000 plus library books. That’s what it’s like to have Caroline James on your side.
Sweet Caroline…It has been such an indescribable pleasure to watch you grow up. I am so proud of the strong, fearless, and gracious young woman you have become. I hope you enjoy this Homecoming Week to the fullest; but don’t be fooled –the best is yet to come. And I can’t wait to see what happens next!
1 Corinthians 2:9 “No eye has seen, nor ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
Love, Michal-Jean Storms
Avery stepped into Cedar Creek with a grace and kindness that made it feel like she has been part of the story from the very beginning. It's no small feat to transfer in during the final years of high school because those are the years when friendships are deep, routines are set, and change isn’t always easy.
Avery shined. Voted by her peers to homecoming court is just one of the many ways her light has been recognized.
I must admit that it’s certainly not her French skills that made me love her. It was her presence and her laughter, her spirit, and smile. The way she could make me laugh out loud and roll my eyes at the same time and that’s the Avery that I believe everyone has come to admire. She wears her heart on her sleeve, but I think that’s what makes her special, she tells it like it is.
The first few weeks into French, Avery was in a class with mostly freshmen and she was a junior. I figured she was just shy since she never wanted to speak out loud. She pleaded with me daily to not make her talk in French. With a little push she did it anyway and she would make me proud. Early on, I realized French wasn’t exactly her forté (that’s French for “your passion”)— But it didn’t take long to see where her real passion lived. I knew little about why she transferred here, until I went to a girls’ basketball game. The crowd screamed with chants: “Avery! Avery! Avery!” And when she finally stepped onto the court, it all made sense.
She hadn’t just transferred from Benton to Ruston on a whim. She came for basketball. And when she plays, you can see it clearly: basketball is her forté. Her fire, her focus, her drive. It’s all unbreakable. Watching her play is like watching someone step fully into who they’re meant to be. Avery is an amazing athlete and watching her on the court is incredible. Avery also made Varsity Cheer her senior year, and I haven’t seen her so happy. She really shows her spirit, and I can tell she is loving it! She really became a part of her school in just a short time. Again, her passion overruled any doubts she might have had about herself. I don’t think she realizes how strong of a person she really is. However, her belief in Christ will show her one day what she is made of; what she can do. That one Sunday that I attended First Baptist of Ruston, I saw her, and we smiled. Seeing her outside of school in the presence of the Lord made me so happy for her.
It's funny how the connections that certain teachers and certain students form in this job don’t always come from the kids who love our subject. Sometimes, it's the ones you least expect who find their way to your desk and to your heart. With Avery, I’m still not sure why she chose me. She didn’t come to me for help with French grammar or French questions. Instead, she came to share her stories; showing me her gorgeous senior pictures, her homecoming dresses, and little glimpses of her world that, for some reason, she felt safe letting me see.
Despite the move from Benton to Ruston and how her life has completely changed in just a short time Avery has stayed true to herself which is AMAZING! I am so proud of her and what she has accomplished here at Cedar Creek. She is in my heart and there is no doubt that she deserved to be on homecoming court. I will definitely miss her next year, but her light will always shine throughout the halls of Cedar Creek where her story here is just a beginning.
Je t’aime Via
I feel so honored to have been asked to write about Katherine. I have had the pleasure of having Katherine in my class for the past two years and have also been able to work with Katherine on Student Council. If you looked up the definitions of dedicated and hardworking, you would most certainly find Katherine’s name there. From pushing herself academically in AP classes to tirelessly serving the student body as Student Council President, Katherine always goes above and beyond what is asked of her.
Katherine is as genuine as they come. See her walking across campus, and she always has the most beautiful, bright smile as she greets everyone. Everyone knows Katherine and it is evident she has made meaningful connections with so many people on our campus. Her approachable and friendly personality makes people naturally want to be around her.
Leadership is one of Katherine’s most outstanding qualities. Katherine is a leader on campus, in the classroom, and outside of school. It is no surprise to me that she was selected for this year’s Homecoming Court. Katherine leads by example- with grace, patience, and a deep sense of integrity- and that has left such a lasting impression on me. Whether she is painting student section signs, researching ideas for Student Council activities, or planning ways to serve our community, she makes sure that she is not only leading, but also serving and working alongside her peers. She is incredibly involved on campus and is a true champion for our school. As Captain of the Varsity Cheerleaders, she plays a big part in helping to promote Creek Pride and school spirit. She is a positive influence on her peers and shows what true leadership looks like.
Katherine, Congratulations on being selected to the 2025 Homecoming Court! What an incredible honor to be selected by your peers to represent them. You are so deserving of this, and I hope that you enjoy every minute of this special week. I cannot wait to see your plans unfold. There is a bible verse that I pray for each of my students, from Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I am so thankful I was a small part of your journey and know that there are great things in store for you.
Love,
Mrs. Alexander
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