University View Academy (UVA) senior Abigail Efferson was crowned the 42nd queen of the Krewe of Erin Celtic Parade in Ponchatoula, LA.
The Krewe of Erin has two courts: the Celtic Heritage Festival court, in which winners are chosen through a traditional pageant, and the parade court which is based on academic and artistic ability. Efferson became involved with Erin in 2024 when she was crowned Teen Miss of the festival court. For the parade court, Efferson was crowned queen for her essay submission exploring the 2026 parade theme “Celtic Nations.”
“I first thought to run for queen because throughout my year on festival court, I got to learn the family-like atmosphere that the krewe gives,” Efferson said. “This community-based environment made me realize that this was something that I wanted to remain a part of. Every Krewe of Erin member treats you like family even if it is their first time meeting you.”
The Krewe of Erin Celtic Parade celebrates the culture and history of the Celtic peoples. The parade runs in Ponchatoula on the first Saturday of March and pushes decorated grocery carts filled with vegetables so attendees can leave with food.
“When I was crowned, I felt honored with the opportunity to be so involved with such a longstanding tradition,” Efferson said. “Our parade is more than just something entertaining you go to on a Saturday. It holds an important place in the community.”
This is Efferson’s sixth year at UVA, and she credits UVA’s learning model with her availability to pursue community service. In school, she is also involved in DECA and Talented Theatre. She plans to pursue a degree in marketing after graduation.
UVA commends Efferson for this achievement. We are proud to provide students across Louisiana the flexibility to serve their communities.
University View Academy is Louisiana’s premier tuition-free K-12 online school. We offer a flexible, personalized education choice for residents across Louisiana that is powered by state-certified teachers and supported by in-person Micro Academies.