The Most Awesome Homecoming King and Queen Ever

Move over, William and Kate. There's a new royal couple making headlines these days. Meet Semone Adkins and Travjuan “Bubba” Hunter who made history when they were elected homecoming king and queen of West Orange High School in Winter Gardens, Florida, on Friday. What makes this royal pair so unique is that both students have Down syndrome.

“This has a huge impact on the Down syndrome community as a whole because it was only a generation ago when children with Down syndrome or other intellectual disabilities were not even guaranteed a right to a public school education,” says Amy Van Bergen, executive director of the Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida, a resource, referral and support group for individuals with Down syndrome and their families. “How amazing and inspiring, especially to new, young families having babies with Down syndrome today, that this young man and young woman—through the sheer force of their charisma and personality—were elected by more than 3,000 of their typical peers.”

This is the first time special needs students have been elected as king and queen on the homecoming court at any school in state of Florida, Meke Smith, senior class dean for West Orange High School tells Yahoo Shine. “Bubba is extremely gregarious and Semone is much more shy, but they have been lifelong friends," says Smith, who has known Adkins and Hunter for two years as a school administrator. "Even before this happened, I was amazed at how well they were received and accepted and loved by the student body.”

The local community also showed its support by donating Hunter's tuxedo and Adkins' gown, and a local shop offered to do Adkins makeup for the event. “People just wanted to know what they could do to help,” says Jim Mattingly, an exceptional student education and intellectual disabilities (InD) teacher who has taught both teens since their freshman year. “Society as a whole are more accepting of students with disabilities,” says Mattingly of the recent homecoming vote. “Plus, when it comes to Bubba, he’s just so popular. I call him the Mayor of West Orange.”

The week-long homecoming events included a parade of all 12 homecoming candidates as well as a talent show competition. Adkins wowed the crowed with her rendition of Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” which ended with Hunter kneeling down and presenting Adkins with a huge faux diamond ring. The final event was the presentation of the crowns which took place on the school’s football field during Friday’s homecoming game.

“This shows everyone that individuals with Down syndrome can do the same things as everyone else, and that people should respect those with Down syndrome for their differences,” Karen McNeil, Adkins mom, tells Yahoo Shine. As for Hunter's and Adkins' take on the events? Hunter says that his favorite part was the homecoming dance, and Adkins echoed every aspiring homecoming queen with her answer, “Getting crowned.”