Eagle Scout and happens to have Down Syndrome

More than 70 people gathered last week at Dixon Elementary School to celebrate the promotion of Brookfield teenager Jonathan Schmit, who has Down syndrome, to the rank of Eagle Scout.

Jonathan, 16, began scouting with the Boy Scouts of America as a Cub Scout when he was 8. The troop was led by Jonathan's father, Brian Schmit, in the family's house.

"Lesson One was don't jump on the couch," Jonathan's mother, Michelle Schmit, said in a phone interview before the ceremony.

Jonathan said after the ceremony that it took him about a year to feel like he knew the other Scouts and was a part of the troop. When he began Scouting, he did not expect to continue long enough to become an Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Boy Scouts. It was a year later, when he discovered his grandfather's Eagle Scout pin in a drawer at home, that he was inspired to continue.

Jonathan's troop, which started as eight Cub Scouts, is now down to five Boy Scouts, including two of Jonathan's closest friends: Tyler Gray-Hoehn and Aaron Bauer, both 15. Gray-Hoehn and Bauer have known Jonathan since kindergarten, which the three attended at Dixon Elementary.

"Jonathan's always been motivated. He's a leader," Gray-Hoehn said.

Gray-Hoehn and Bauer described the community service project Jonathan organized as part of his promotion to Eagle Scout: elevated gardens outside Dixon Elementary so that students with disabilities who were unable to go to the school's rooftop greenhouse could still participate in class activities. Jonathan managed to get the help of about 20 people for his project, including Scouts who had stopped attending meetings years earlier, according to Gray-Hoehn.

Bob Agnew, Jonathan's grandfather, as well as Jonathan's father, the troop's current master, led much of Friday evening's ceremony. Among those in attendance were Jonathan's elementary, middle and high school teachers, as well as Jonathan's three younger siblings.

Jonathan's elementary schoolteacher, Anita Lange, described him as "a wonderful student to have in class." In addition to Scouting, Jonathan is heavily involved in student council at Brookfield Central High School and manages the school's basketball and football teams, said Lange and her colleagues. Jonathan also competes athletically; he won fourth in basketball skills in the 2008 Special Olympics Wisconsin State Indoor Sports Tournament.

Jonathan's promotion to Eagle Scout coincided with another Scouting event for the Schmit family: Jonathan's youngest sibling, Timmy, 6, attended his first Cub Scout meeting a week earlier. Michelle Schmit said her husband would be stepping down as master of Jonathan's troop to lead Timmy's troop. She hopes that Jonathan will serve as a role model for her younger children.

Jonathan said after the ceremony that he plans to take a short break from Scouting this summer. He already has collected 36 merit badges, and he hopes to collect more upon his return to Scouting in the fall.

As an Eagle Scout, Jonathan joins the ranks of astronaut Neil Armstrong, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and director Steven Spielberg.

from jsonline.com

Prom Queen is 'the happiest girl in the world'

The battle to be crowned prom queen is notoriously fierce. But for the students at  Fair Grove High School, Missouri, there was only ever going to be one winner - Maisie Garoutte. The 19-year-old, who has Down's Syndrome, is so popular her fellow competitors decided to give up their own prom dreams to campaign on her behalf.

The two other girls in the running persuaded the whole school to vote for her, putting up  'Vote for Maisie' posters along the school corridors. Her teacher and mentor, Sue O'Dell, told MailOnline: 'To give up prom queen - it's a pretty big deal. But the seniors were wonderful this year.

Mrs O'Dell, who has taught Maisie for eight years, said the senior was thrilled to be crowned prom queen on April 30.
She said: 'She was extremely excited, she was was especially excited to get the crown, she wore it to school for the next two days.'

Maisie has been at the school since kindergarten, and is extremely popular among the students in her year, many of whom who have known her since she was five. Mrs O'Dell said: ''They all know her really well, they all help her when she needs it. The vote was pretty much unanimous'. Describing her as 'the sweetest person', Mrs O'Dell said Maisie has won the hearts of everyone at school as the morning greeter, high-fiving the students as they walk in the door.

She also volunteers at the school, rolling the teachers' cutlery every morning and delivering the mail to staff.

Mrs O'Dell, who posed with Maisie for pictures before the prom, said she wasn't at all surprised to see her win the coveted title.
She said: 'She is one of those people that everyone needs to have around at some point in her life.' Nor was school principal Mike Bell. He told the Springfield News-Leader: 'We have an incredible student body that works well with special-needs students.'
Maisie's father, Michael, told the newspaper: 'It was real sweet of those kids. She was mighty proud of that crown. She's got it right on top of her jewellery box. She's just real thankful for this.'

He described Maisie as 'the happiest girl in the world' after her win. He told the National Enquirer: 'Everybody loves her. I wish I was as happy all the time as she is. 'The other girls gave up her chance to be prom queen to let my Maisie get the crown - and that's tough for an 18-year-old girl to do.'

From dailymail.co.uk

Working for the Atlanta Braves

Suddenly under fire from an entire middle school band squeezing its way through the gates of Coolray Field, Patrick Barlow dishes out programs with the deft calmness of a seasoned veteran, sharing hearty grins and big laughs along with them.

The 28-year-old Stone Mountain resident — who has Down syndrome — has been with the Gwinnett Braves all along, starting his job as a greeter with the Atlanta Braves’ Triple-A affiliate when it moved down from Virginia in 2009.

He welcomes G-Braves fans to every home game with a pure and unparalleled joy.
“There are a lot of people here who know him by name and come to say hello to him at every game,” fellow staff member Julie Packer said. “He’s made quite a reputation for himself.”
“I knew him as a season-ticket holder before I started working here. Everybody knows Patrick.”
The reputation is earned from sheer enthusiasm for the job. Barlow stands vigilantly at the end of a table at the main entrance to Coolray Field, emphatically barking out cheers and welcomes to each and every game-goer. Season ticket holders give him high fives and tell him how happy they are to see him.
The only thing that puts a wrinkle in Barlow’s bespectacled brow is when the occasional fan turns down his offer of a program.

“Greeting is the best part,” he said recently. “You meet people, and see how they’re doing.”
Just don’t disturb him during “The Star Spangled Banner” — the patriotic American dashes from his post as the national anthem starts prior to each game, standing faithfully at salute for the duration (“It’s what the Marines and Army and those guys do,” he says).

“Everyone on our staff looks forward to seeing Patrick at the ballpark — he is always excited to be here and our fans love his contagious enthusiasm,” G-Braves General Manager North Johnson said.
“Patrick takes special pride in making sure our fans are having as much fun as he is.”
Barlow will tell you he truly loves all of the Braves, both in Gwinnett and Atlanta. His favorites, though, represent somewhat of a dichotomy — Jason Heyward, the highly hyped new face of a big league franchise, and Diory Hernandez, a 27-year-old journeyman seemingly on a perennial carousel ride from Gwinnett to Atlanta and back.

Then again, the G-Braves’ greatest greeter has also been his own person.
“He’s a dynamic soul,” Packer said with a laugh. “He’s fun, he’s energetic, enthusiastic. He’s a lot of fun to work with.”

The Gwinnett Braves staff in general is one close-knit with its fans, particularly its regular visitors. One of the first jolly faces fans see at Coolray Field, Barlow succinctly explains what those relationships mean.
“I make a whole bunch of friends,” he said, with the biggest grin of all.

From gwinnettdailypost.com

one family's journey before, during and after heart surgery

from DSAIA:

The Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City offered an amazing resource to other DS groups this past week.  The group posted a video which chronicles one family's journey before, during and after heart surgery. A local photographer was granted permission to go into the surgical suite to photograph the entire procedure start to finish. Parent reactions and post surgery follow up are compiled into a photo video montage. The award-winning video is being shown in some children's hospitals.  Although, some images are graphic, they are all tastefully done.

This is a stressful time for parents and the goal of the video was that some anxiety may be alleviated if they can view the process from start to finish. The group is pleased to share this link with their affiliate friends as they think many of your members could also benefit from viewing the video. 

NASCAR Driver David Ragan and D.A.D.S.

from theweekly.com:

The newly redesigned 2012 Ford Focus is “driving with purpose” to Atlanta to team up with NASCAR Driver David Ragan and Chef Richard Blais to not only show off its new features, but help raise money for the Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome, a Committee of the Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta. The 2012 Focus delivers up to 40 MPG and comes available with the newest vehicle technology in SYNC with MyFord Touch.

Ford is proud to stand with Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome, a Committee of the Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta. D.A.D.S. is a not-for-profit community group composed of fathers whose children have Down Syndrome that works to support each other and their communities through raising awareness and money for charity.