WESTERVILLE, Ohio—In high school, feeling included can make all the difference.
- A senior varsity cheerleader, who lives with Down syndrome, wanted to be asked to homecoming
- A group of students got together to help her have the homecoming she’s always wanted
- The students planned a surprise homecoming proposal during halftime at last week's game
“The school has been supportive in trying to make sure that everyone, regardless of who you are, is included in everything in the school and makes everyone feel like they are included in the school,” said Amy Brill, Westerville North High School.
And for senior varsity cheerleader Paige Dudley – her friends wanted to make this year amazing.
“She was saying this was her first year going to homecoming, and she hadn't been asked by anybody and she would like to be asked by somebody,” said Alex Botkin, Westerville North High School senior.
Dudley lives with Down syndrome, and sometimes people with intellectual or developmental disabilities can feel excluded or isolated.
But not at North.
Her teacher Amy Brill says she's one of the most popular cheerleaders in school — and a friend to all.
“She walks into a room and everyone knows Paige,” said Brill. “I like to say she's the mayor of Westerville north, every couple of years I have a student like that and Paige definitely is it.”
Westerville North senior Alex Botkin met Dudley as a student volunteer in her classroom.
“She's very sarcastic and she can joke around with you, but she's great, she's just sweet,” said Botkin.
So Botkin talked to one of his friends on the cheerleading team to help hatch a plan – help their favorite cheerleader have the homecoming she's always wanted.
“They took the reins on it,” said Botkin. “I gave them my idea, but they came up with everything and, I mean, I helped them with it along the way, but they were really excited about doing this for Paige because they love Paige as well.”
Botkin and the cheer team made a secret plan to ask Dudley at Friday's game at North with Mansfield Senior High.
“I just knew it would be so exciting for her and the whole time I was just like, this is going to be so good and she's gonna be so excited,” said Samantha Borghese, WNHS Cheerleader.
And at halftime, it was showtime for Botkin.
And, Dudley said yes.
“I was excited for homecoming, and thank you for Alex for the proposal for homecoming,” said Dudley.
Dudley's parents say they're thrilled their daughter gets to experience homecoming with her friends.
“For this young man to step up and make something happen for my daughter is beyond measure,” said Edward Dudley, Paige’s father.
Botkin says he'll let his new homecoming date pick what they do.
“I just hope she has a ton of fun and never forgets it,” he said.
