Down Syndrome Teen a Candidate for Homecoming Queen

students are rooting for one special homecoming queen.

Students are looking past Megan Harris’ disability and stereotypes by rallying for her to win, despite her having Down syndrome.

“I like my friends because they are there for me, and they are my favorite friends I have,” Harris said. “A lot of people are voting for me because I like everyone, and they always vote for me, and I love that.”

Students say the 18-year-old high school senior is popular on campus because of her friendly personality.

The school released a video with all of the homecoming nominees giving short speeches to their peers. It was played for students before voting began last Friday.

After the tape played, Harris’ friends urged other students to vote for her.

“I encouraged everybody to vote for her because I know it’s very important for her to be queen and I just want to encourage that,” said Jessica Miller, Harris’ friend. “She’s just really great and I think she deserves this after everything she’s been through.”

Miller is hoping that Harris wins and gets a boost in confidence.

Friends see her as a happy, friendly and funny person and say they want her to win because of that.

“Most people saw the video and thought she was funny, so they were going to vote for her anyway,” said Granite Bay High School freshman Carson Robles. “She is really nice to everyone, she’s really funny and I think it’d be pretty cool if she won it with having her disability.”

Harris’ mother Sherry Harris said she was not surprised when she found out her daughter was nominated for homecoming queen.

Megan Harris was nominated for homecoming princess last year, but her mother said she was bothered when she didn’t win.

“She called me so excited [when she found out she was nominated],” Sherry Harris said. “She is so happy.”

The Harris’ have already gone shopping for a dress and matching jewelry for Megan to wear to the dance.

The announcement will be made at the school’s varsity football game this Friday, Oct. 28 during halftime. It will be a big event for the Harris family, with extended family and neighbors planning on attending the game to support Megan.

If she wins, Megan Harris said: “I would cry and be really, really happy … I like it because it’s really powerful and I like to be a queen cause I never did it before.”