NOTE: Great story on Truman Homecoming King Tyler Nunnery in The News-Herald Newspapers, thanks to Staff Writer Dave Komer.
TAYLOR — Thanks to an act of kindness by his fellow
classmates, a special candidate was crowned Truman High School’s homecoming
king.
Tyler Nunnery is like most high school students —
he loves band, acting in drama and sports, and is able to remember any possible
statistic or score when asked.
Tyler also has autism, which can make a teen’s
formative years, which are a challenge for anyone, even harder. Yet, the
popular and busy student had classmates who wanted to spring a special surprise
on him.
On Friday, he was crowned homecoming king, and Kristen
Bailey was crowned homecoming queen.
“The kids really wanted to do it for him,” Truman
Principal Melissa Skopczynski said. “Tyler is a great kid. The kids just love
him. This was totally student driven and they wanted him on the court and to be
king.”
His mother, Rhonda, said the other boys on the
court had vowed that if any of them won the vote, they would hand their cape
and crown to Tyler because, they said, “He deserved it.”
As it turned out, Tyler didn’t need the assist
after all. He carried the popular vote and defeated the football and basketball
players also on the court.
Tyler, who had told everyone he was honored just to
be on the court, said he was shocked at the announcement.
“I was very surprised,” he said. “It was a blast
being up there. I just prayed about it and kept it in the good Lord’s hands. If
I didn’t win, I would have respected anyone else who did because they’re my
friends.
“It was wonderful. I got to wear a crown and a
cape. It was amazing.”
Tyler is on the varsity band, the marching band and
in drama while carrying a 2.7 GPA, which his mother, Rhonda, and his father,
Chuck, says he works hard at.
While Tyler is independent and self-sufficient now,
his mother said, she remembers a time when the going was much rougher.
“At 5 years of age, he did not speak,” she said. “It
was with the power of prayer that he has (come this far). I had to help him
with his homework in ninth grade, but I haven’t had to help him since. He has
earned his 2.7 himself.”
Besides playing trumpet and pit percussion, Tyler
loves to work on sets and behind the scenes for drama. As a senior, he also is
a member of Link Crew, which partners upperclassmen with an incoming freshman
for the year to show the younger students the ropes and help them acclimate.
Tyler is known for making a big impression, and not
just because he’s 6 feet 5 inches tall. His mother said his kindness and
friendliness are what help make him so well-liked.
Skopczynski said that when he is in school, Tyler
is “really kind and caring ... meets you every day and greets you.”
“I was really proud of our kids,” she said. “It was
nothing the adults did. Tyler won it fair and square.”
His mother said that after Tyler found out he was
king, he was smiling “from ear to ear” as girls on the court ran up to hug him
and guys high-fived him.
On Saturday, he and the homecoming queen, Kristen,
danced at homecoming.
“It was just an amazing thing that these children
have it in their hearts to be selfless and considerate and accept him for who he
is,” Tyler’s mother said. “Tyler said, ‘Thank you for voting for me even though
I have autism.’ Someone told him, ‘Tyler we don’t look at you as having a
disability or autism.’
“When it comes down to it, the students at Truman
love each other for who they are.”
Contact Staff Writer David Komer at 1-734-246-0866
or dkomer@heritage.com.
Follow him on Facebook and @DavidKomer_NH on Twitter.
