An unlikely Hatch Valley High student voted homecoming queen

Hatch Valley High’s Homecoming game was Friday night and gracing the field was the most unlikely of homecoming queens, Justice Kaye Morrow.

Morrow is straight-A senior who has made a lasting impression on her fellow classmates, so much so, the nominee for homecoming king took it upon himself to nominate Morrow for queen. Hatch Valley High students came together to make it happen.

“She’s always been on the sidelines because there’s more popular people,” said the homecoming king Manuel Rodriguez.

Morrow wasn’t supposed to survive. After being born and before her second birthday, she underwent three open heart surgeries.

“All these kids who have been raised with her, who have grown up with her when they were little they didn’t know there was any difference,” said Morrow’s mother Catrina Hackler.

There isn’t a difference if you ask her friends. Rodriguez said he wanted Morrow to be queen because he believes she deserves it just like any other girl.

“Everyone is equal,” Rodriguez said. “It just shouldn’t be the most popular, or sports player or the most prettiest girl. It can be anyone.”

Morrow lives with Down Syndrome, a disorder that affects intelligence and physical traits. Yet she’s set to graduate with a 4.0 and a community that loves her, voted her and wants to see her feel special

For Rodriguez who nominated her this was about breaking down barriers.And what helped make this happen was many Hatch Valley students were educated by their parents when they were little, that Morrow was just like them and should be treated as such.