PIKE COUNTY, Mo. – With prom season underway for most schools in Missouri, one district is celebrating the tradition by honoring one of its beloved students in the community.

Timmy Kirkpatrick, a student with autism, was unanimously voted as the prom king of Bowling Green High for the 2024-2025 school year in late April.

A member of the community, Kirkpatrick is known for his kind personality. Deborah Curry, whose grandson is Kirkpatrick’s stepfather, shared with FOX 2.

Curry is a longtime member of the Bowling Green School District, and she has two daughters and four grandchildren who also attended the schools.

“They all just take care of (Timmy) and love him,” Curry shared. “I guess that’s why they (voted for him). But I just couldn’t believe that they would do such a thing for him.”

Kirkpatrick has the mental capacity of a 10-year-old, and according to Curry, it creates challenges for him to function alone.

But despite his disabilities, Timmy enjoys gaming and listening to music.

“He always has music in his head, and it’s one special gift,” Curry said. “He will always ask you, ‘What is your birthday?’ And he will never forget it.”

Curry shared that it means a lot for individuals—mostly young—to choose Timmy as a representative for their class.

“I said to myself, ‘What a special group of young people,’” she said. “And the seniors, just what a special group they are to do that.”