In royal gesture of kindness, Merritt Island homecoming king hands crown, sash to classmate
Last week during Merritt Island High's homecoming celebration, you would have been hard-pressed to find a dry eye in the stadium after the announcement of this year's homecoming king.
Senior James Verpaele was initially announced as king, but he took the crown and sash and walked over and presented it to fellow senior Parks Finney.
Verpaele said all six of the young men on homecoming court felt that Parks deserved the honor.
"We all love Parks and he's great friends with us," Verpaele said. "So we all just came together, and we all thought Parks deserved it."
Parks was born with a condition called Periventricular Leukomalacia, which affects the brain. His cognitive abilities and speech are impacted. His mother, Amy Finney, said when she saw Parks with the crown and sash, she was overcome with emotion.
"I got choked up immediately," Amy said. "I thought, 'what a kind gesture.' I was shocked, amazed and overwhelmed."
Amy Finney, who also teaches at Merritt Island High and whose family has been a part of the Merritt Island community for three generations, was not the only person to be touched by this amazing moment.
Game highlights: Week 10 Football Highlights: Satellite at Merritt Island
Meet the Coach: 321preps Q&A: Tyler Murray on top of Merritt Island program that molded him years ago
She said the crowd erupted in a loud cheer when Parks put on the crown.
She added that Parks was extremely excited to be on the homecoming court because he loves his school so much.
"He is all about Merritt Island High and excited about everything to do with Merritt Island High," Amy said.
Joe Roach, a teacher at the school, agreed that Parks is one of Merritt Island High's biggest supporters. For that reason, he encouraged Parks to apply to be on homecoming court.
"During lunch Parks is always walking around with a smile and he's giving out high fives," Roach said. "He has an infectious personality and is such a prideful Mustang."
Roach said before the game, all the senior boys told him they were in agreement that Parks would be the one to have the crown. Roach said when they told him, he really felt really proud of them all.
Along with being one of the Mustangs' biggest supporters, Parks is a member of JROTC and he is also a manager for the softball and track and field teams at Merritt Island.
Verpaele, who is member of the school's football team and whose father and uncles graduated from Merritt Island, said its feels good to know that Parks is cheering the school on in everything it does.
"It means a lot knowing that someone's always going to be there for you no matter what," Verpaele said.
Both Parks and Verpaele will be invited back to next year's homecoming game to crown the next homecoming king at halftime of the game.
"To know that Parks' peers feel that way about him is so heartwarming," Amy wrote in a Facebook post after the game.
Contact Chasite Banks at cbanks@floridatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: 'Kind gesture' helps Merritt Island High senior be named homecoming king
