Homecoming Can Bring Dreams for Special Needs Students Together

Written Sunday October 6th, at 2:20 AM

Homecoming has its ups and downs on the night at a football game. At halftime you get to see the homecoming court nominated along with the classes’ king and queen being named along with a huge ceremony with the band in the background along with the cheerleaders and organizers who organized the event.

Now a lot of people call the nomination and the aura of Homecoming as a popularity contest. Some say it, others don’t. You have a Homecoming parade, then the prep rally, then the Homecoming game, and then the Homecoming dance and then it’s done.

However it does bring an opportunity for those who don’t get to see the spotlight as often or have their story named especially for those who have special needs and disabilities and victims of bullying.

A perfect example was last year at Ogemaw Heights when sophomore, now junior Whitney Krupp was bullied frequently and was intentionally put on the homecoming court as a prank but her story influenced two communities in Ogemaw Heights and Cadillac, whom they played that night to overcome bullying. The Homecoming King at Ogemaw Heights in an unusual twist had Down syndrome when he became the Homecoming King last year.

On Friday night two special people along with one last week had a disability that they overcame. One student had Asperger Syndrome and while the other two had  Down Syndrome. All three had something in common. 

They were named their respective Homecoming King an Queen at their respective high schools.

At East Grand Rapids during it’s game against Lowell. 18 year old senior Joshua Pittman who has Asperger Syndrome heard his name on the loud speaker when he became the Homecoming King during halftime. He was very excited and thankful as he became King and hugged his parents. The East Grand Rapids faithful cheered on Pittman when he became the Homecoming King. His best friend nominated him to the Homecoming Court where he started a movement just to get him to be Homecoming King sharing his story to students and peers. Classmates of his said that he was very popular with his peers. His mother said that he was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome at the age of two in the middle end of the spectrum and that she and his Dad are very proud of him and his accomplishments.

At Rochester during its game against Lake Orion, 17 year old Emily Jacobs, a senior with Down Syndrome and is known as Sunshine to her peers was nominated to the Homecoming Court. When Jacobs found out she was on the final ballot for Homecoming Queen, she was very excited. During halftime, the Rochester faithful chanted her name “Emily, Emily.” When her name was announced she was surprised and shocked to hear that she was the Homecoming Queen. The whole Rochester community came together and nominated her on the court. Students and teachers have said that she brings a positive attitude and energy to their day and she loves life. Her mother was worried that she wouldn’t be accepted and now she has been embraced by the Falcons community.

At Rochester Adams during its game with Oxford last week, special needs freshman student Owen Groesser to its freshman Homecoming Court. Groesser whom has Down Syndrome was a basketball player at Van Hoosen whom hit three point shots like crazy in a basketball game and was on ESPN for it also had to overcome the fear of not being accepted and now is by the Adams community.

As a person with Asperger Syndrome and was on the Homecoming Court for my Senior Year in 2005 at Lake Orion, we played Groves that night for the Homecoming game. We won that game might add. I had thoughts that what would had happened if I won and became Homecoming King. I don’t even know how I would have responded or even how I felt about it. Well I lost that night and didn't have a problem with it but it was nice to be on the Homecoming Court.

For these three kids with disabilities, the opportunity to represent their class no matter if they are seniors or freshman as King or Queen couldn’t be much sweeter than it already is to feel that you are loved in the community.