Aptos makes touching move with Homecoming King vote

APTOS, Calif. (KGO) -- Aptos High School has a new Homecoming King and that's big news because of what it means to him and what it says about his classmates.

Aptos high school is celebrating Homecoming and there is one student in particular who's very excited about it.

Brandon Gruber is among the 10 seniors who were nominated by their fellow classmates as candidates for Homecoming King.

For his mom, Teresa, it's exciting, but mostly she's enjoying watching her son soak it all in. She said, "Yeah, it's fun. It's nice to see that he's got a community of people that he knows here on campus."

As a teenager with Down syndrome his high school career started out with some special challenges, but over the last few years, principal K.C. O'Brien says Brandon has become one of the most outgoing students on campus.

O'Brien told ABC7 News, "He probably had a slow start, but he's got his feet under him now and everybody knows him. On all our Spirit Days he comes fully dressed."

So it was no surprise to his fellow students that he should be nominated, but when the moment came to announce a winner, it was a big surprise for Brandon.

His fellow royalty, Homecoming Queen Maurea Richmond, let us in on a little secret after the ceremony. She said, "We talked about it among the corps. All the guys were actually going to give up their crowns for Brandon, so we knew he was going to be the king,"

It made this one of the best nights ever for Brandon and showed plenty of character from his fellow classmates as well.