Today the story of a pact between three extraordinary students at a Tennessee high school that should make us all proud.
The battle for homecoming king and queen at any high school is the epitome of a popularity contest. More often than not the queen will be the prettiest alpha girl at the school, and the king is usually the star of the football team or class president.
But what happened at Community High School in Unionville, Tennessee, proves that every so often these contests can be something more than an annual ritual to reinforce the school’s pecking order.
Back in 2013, Jesse Cooper was nominated for homecoming king along with his buddies Zeke Grissom and Drew Gibbs. Before the election, the three made an incredible pact that no matter who won, they would pass on the crown to Scotty Maloney, a junior who suffers from Williams syndrome.
People with Williams syndrome experience developmental delays, learning disabilities, and cardiovascular disease, but are also blessed with a permanently friendly demeanor and an intense appreciation for music.
At Community High School homecoming is celebrated during the basketball season. On the day of the coronation, at the homecoming ceremony, the school’s principal shocked the school by announcing what the boys had decided and presented the crown to Maloney. Cooper said “I’ve been blessed with so many things,” “I just wanted Scotty to experience something great in his high school days.”