Rockwall Senior with Down's Syndrome Named Homecoming King

A Rockwall High School senior with Down's syndrome was celebrated Friday night when his classmates elected him homecoming king.

Andrew Sauerwein's mom, Stacy Sauerwein, said she received the phone call a few weeks ago from a friend, telling her the news.

"And so we told Andrew, we gotta buy you a suit. You're going to be, you're nominated as homecoming king," she said. "And he was just like, 'Yeah, momma!'"

Stacy Sauerwein said there is no lack of spirit in her son, who not only plays in the band, but has also participated in nearly every high school sport.

He even gives his own mother, who is a teacher, advice.

"He tells me to be nice. He tells me to be strong, and he tells me to just enjoy life no matter what," she said.

It's a motto that has resonated with his classmates at Rockwall.

"He's one of the hardest working students out here," said fellow band member and Rockwall senior Natalie Pang. "If you look at everyone else, I mean, they all work hard, but Andrew has to go the extra mile. But when he does, his results are far more greater than ours."

So, on Friday, in front of hundreds of parents, students and families, Andrew took to the field holding his parents' hands and waited for that one moment.

And then he heard it: "Homecoming king, Mr. Andrew Sauerwein."

Raising his hands in the air, Andrew embraced his new title with the utmost joy and enthusiasm, bringing a flood of tears to his mom's eyes.

"It's so cool to have people believe in our child. It's just amazing! They don't see his disability. They see his ability," she exclaimed.

"He's got every excuse in the world not to do things, but he does them," said his father, Steve Sauerwein. "He's an inspiration to everybody."

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