The Ronnie Series 2/12: Maggie/Speech Pathologist

(THE RONNIE SERIES 2/12: Maggie/Speech Pathologist)

"This is Texas. Friday Night Lights was filmed here in Pflugerville. Football and Homecoming are a big deal and ‘big deal’ doesn’t really begin to cover it. The 2,500 students of Hendrickson High School nominate and vote for their Homecoming King and Queen. In 2019, they nominated Ronnie for Homecoming court. To me that was a win in and of itself. Ronnie made the ballot! With no adult intervention at all the students of this school nominated him for the Homecoming court. Some people might see that as a great picture of a school that truly embraces inclusion, and they would be correct, however, when I think of this story, I think of Ronnie’s role. The amount of adversity and challenge he had to overcome to become such an integral part of this campus that he was nominated out of all the Senior boys is astounding.

Ronnie’s personality and communication skills have flourished over the years. He created a motto around here, ‘I say YES!’ which means saying yes to all the opportunities presented to you. He has cultivated so many authentic friendships here. For the rest of my life I will always remember being under those bright Friday night lights, stands FULL, as Ronnie is announced over the loud speaker, he and his beloved sisters walk down the field the entire student section chanting his name, ‘Ronnie, Ronnie, Ronnie!'

And the announcement, ‘And your Hendrickson High School 2019 Homecoming King is… Ronnie Brown!’ The stands went CRAZY! Everyone was screaming, people were crying. He had the biggest smile on his face and the biggest Texas sized crown on his head. Of course it made the local evening news and it was in the papers. He is still referred to as King Ronnie around here."

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