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Teen with Down Syndrome Wins Homecoming King, Refused To Take Off Crown Until Bedtime

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Welcome to Blair High School in Blair, Nebraska, where a culture of inclusion extends to students from all walks of life.

Alec Aman, 18, is a senior at Blair High. He has Down syndrome, and thanks to his welcoming and accepting peers, has plenty of friends.

On Oct. 6, to the delight of the student body, Alec was crowned homecoming king.

Megan Sorensen, 17, was crowned homecoming queen. She and Alec have been good friends since the sixth grade, and the special moment where the two sat together as royalty was certainly one to remember.

Megan said the student body was hoping Alec would take the title of homecoming king.

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“Everyone wanted him to win,” Megan told the Omaha World-Herald.



When Alec sat down beside his queen, he planted a sweet kiss on her cheek.

“I wouldn’t have wanted to be up there with anyone else,” Megan said. “That kid is so special.”

It seems the whole student body at Blair exhibits a special kindness for others, effortlessly including kids with special needs in a way that the world needs to see.

“They really embrace the kids with special needs,” said Alec’s father, Craig Aman.

“It really is a comforting thing to a parent of somebody with special needs,” Aman continued. “You feel they’re in a safe environment and also in an environment where the kids really want to be around each other.”

Aman said his son was so excited about the homecoming win that he danced the night away, came home and kept his crown on until bedtime.

Principal Tom Anderson said the 18-year-old is a shining addition to the student body.

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“Alec is probably one of our most positive people we have walking in this building,” Anderson said.

“He truly loves every moment of the day,” Anderson said. “Smiles are contagious, and if you get an opportunity to meet Alec, he will have a smile on his face.”

Alec’s mom, Karen Aman, said he heart is full knowing her son is so loved and accepted at school.

“We just love how embracing the Blair student body is,” Karen Aman said. “It’s just so heartwarming to go out to any of the schools here in Blair and see (special needs students) fully integrated.”

Alec is described as a social butterfly and an avid Nebraska sports fan.

Hats off to this incredible student and his peers for showing such love to one another.

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A graduate of Grand Canyon University, Kim Davis has been writing for The Western Journal since 2015, focusing on lifestyle stories.
Kim Davis began writing for The Western Journal in 2015. Her primary topics cover family, faith, and women. She has experience as a copy editor for the online publication Thoughtful Women. Kim worked as an arts administrator for The Phoenix Symphony, writing music education curriculum and leading community engagement programs throughout the region. She holds a degree in music education from Grand Canyon University with a minor in eating tacos.
Birthplace
Page, Arizona
Education
Bachelor of Science in Music Education
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Lifestyle & Human Interest




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