Travjuan ‘Bubba’ Hunter, Semone Adkins, Down Syndrome students named Homecoming King and Queen
Travjuan “Bubba” Hunter waved from his perch in the Homecoming Parade and his date, Semone Adkins, heard yells: “Semone, you look beautiful!”
What may have seemed normal Homecoming news had a unique spin in this Florida town. As Orlando Sentinel detailed in the Oct. 11 article, the pair have Down Syndrome and this year marks the first time a special needs couple made the court, let alone win.
It’s the first time two students with Down syndrome were awarded the high honor in Florida, officials with the Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida said.
They knew how to make an entrance. Adkins and Hunter rolled in on a black Maserati and a red Ferrari welcomed by roars from their student body at West Orange High School.
“He has always been loud and proud — how can you not love that?” said Cindi Brasch, an adaptive P.E. teacher at West Orange. “But he’s a very polite, very well-mannered young man who just likes everybody.”
“Oh, everybody in town knows Bubba,” said Michelle Cavanzon, a teacher’s aide who works with Hunter and Adkins. “I swear he could run for mayor — and probably win.”
“It’s breathtaking to watch,” said teacher Jim Mattingly. “They have come a long way. I couldn’t be more proud of our school and our staff.”
The couple received a standing ovation during the homecoming court event.
The two were voted in by their classmates.
Full video coverage WFTV: http://www.wftv.com/videos/news/couple-1st-homecoming-king-queen-with-down/vCFfFc/