It was a no-brainer for the kids at Chisago Lakes High School in Minnesota. They knew exactly who they were voting for and exactly who would win — right from the jump.
Doran Velaski was a shoe-in for homecoming king. He showed up to every sports game to cheer on his friends, and has been the friendliest kid any classmate has ever passed in the hallway for years.
Every day, his peers look forward to Doran's high fives and extroverted personality.
“He’s never having a bad day. He’s just smiling. You end up smiling, because it’s contagious,” said classmate Anders Brown.
So the students knew they'd be voting for Doran.
Those outside of the school may have been a little stunned to know Doran has Down syndrome. While some kids are known to bully those who are different, these remarkable students were able to see Doran for the compassionate community member he truly is, rather than judging him without knowing him.
“I was surprised. I felt like I won a million dollars. I was just in awe and very proud,” said Doran’s mom, Jennifer.
The family was elated and felt a huge relief. His father Keith admitted that when Doran was younger they wondered whether he would be accepted. He explained:
“When you have a special needs kid — when they are really, really little, as a parent you worry: How is he going to be accepted by his peers? Is he going to be treated well? Are people going to be nice to him? Is he going to be able to make friends? And then, when you fast-forward to something like this, you can’t believe you ever worried about that. So, as a parent, it’s a fantastic feeling. It’s really great."
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