PH South students, community share magical night

It can sometimes be difficult to find tangible examples which provide euphoric happiness over the positive qualities of the human spirit. As Park Hill South celebrated Homecoming last week, the student body made the crowning of their queen one of those rare moments.

There was no debate needed. Hands down, the loudest roar of cheers from the crowd at last Friday’s game wasn’t for any one of 10 Panther touchdowns, although there was plenty to celebrate in the team’s 70-6 blowout victory over Ruskin.

When Park Hill South senior Allyssa Brubeck’s name was said over the loud speaker at Park Hill District Stadium announcing that she had been voted the school’s Homecoming Queen, the almost instantaneous reaction from the crowd left no doubt the overwhelming sense of excitement the news brought. Mixed in with the screams and yells were tears and hugs, which extended well after the announcement was made, bringing realization to any outsider that the new Homecoming Queen was viewed as a unique combination of adored, respected and deserving — the kind of qualities Hollywood movies never reward, but ought to.

Brubeck, who is a special needs student at Park Hill South, was diagnosed with Down syndrome at birth and underwent heart surgery at the age of two. Nevertheless, she has been a favorite of the Panthers cheerleading team going on four years now and can often be found on the sidelines of Park Hill South sporting events doing what all cheerleaders do: shake pom-poms, yell out chants and sport a big smile. The difference between Brubeck and her fellow teammates, though, is that rarely does a team find such a high level of drive and inspiration from one person.

“The team really comes together with her and accepts her,” parent-guardian Michael Small said. “She can’t do stunts or cartwheels or anything of that nature, but hopefully she’s an inspiration, not only to her squad of cheerleaders, but to other youth throughout this school.

Despite the difficult obstacles she has faced, coach and teacher Christy Davis says Brubeck has used her time to the fullest at Park Hill South and earned her crown.

“She doesn’t see herself as different, she’s always felt like she’s a part of the regular population,” Davis said. “She’s been involved in every activity she could have been involved in since she was a freshman and everyone knows her, so her peers voted her Homecoming Queen."

Before last week, Allyssa and her mom were planning on being out of town for the weekend, but the whole family was ecstatic when she came home from school with the note explaining she’d been named a queen candidate. When his daughter was announced, Small was short on words.

“What is there to say? It really says it for itself; the student body has come forth and voted her queen,” Small said. “This is exciting (for us); it’s exciting for individuals with developmental disabilities. It really goes back to the student body at Park Hill South who nominated her and voted for her.”

While certainly a reflection on Brubeck, it also serves as an indictment on the student body as a whole.

“I’m really proud of her. She is an outstanding young lady and she’s been a joy to have in class,” teacher Sarah McDaniels said holding back tears. “I think it’s outstanding that the Park Hill South students have embraced our students the way they have and made them as much as a part of this school as anyone else. Park Hill South has always been very supportive.”

The pomp and circumstance of Homecoming as well as the superior feeling that comes after beating your opponent by such a convincing margin will eventually fade. Weeks and months will pass, but hopefully what mother Cindy Small would later describe as a ‘magical night’ is something Park Hill South will be able to hold onto for years to come.