Celebrating Hunter and Laina: Jackson's royals

Hunter Ross and Laina Wohrle were named Jackson High School's Homecoming king and queen Friday. (Courtesy of Sandy Ross)

This is an inspirational story if ever we heard one. Hunter Ross and Laina Wohrle, two special high school students, were recently crowned Jackson High School Homecoming king and queen. They stood on the field beaming, clearly pleased with the honor of representing their school. As they are both involved in sports, their place there is quite fitting. Hunter competes in track and field in the Special Olympics, and Laina is a member of a special needs cheerleading team.

Both students are a beloved part of their school family, which proves, as we recently reported, that "just because someone might be different doesn't mean they can't have a rich high-school experience." Hunter's mom, Sandy, praised her son's classmates: "The kids who have been with Hunter since kindergarten have been great," she said. Laina's mom, Melinda, echoed those sentiments, saying, "I think it's amazing, the way that the school treats Hunter and Laina."

We congratulate the pair for their selection as king and queen; judging from their involvement in their school community and the admiration of their peers, the school clearly chose well. On Friday, donned in royal attire, they added to what is apparently a long list of warm school memories. They and their families are to be commended for not allowing what could be perceived as disadvantages to keep them from positive educational experiences.

We also congratulate the Jackson High School body as a whole for having the vision to see beyond limitations to value. The recognition that those with special needs are just as vital to our society as those without speaks volumes. Jackson's acknowledgment that Hunter and Laina were excellent choices to represent their school illustrates that they, too, are rather special.