RICHMOND, Va. - For many, it was a typical homecoming game on Friday at Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond.
But for Ashley Herzog and Jarvis Stokes, it meant so much more.
"It was just so exciting!" said Kathy Herzog, Ashley's mother.
"It was very special, very heartwarming," said Jarvis' mother.
The two students are both in the Exceptional Education program, and were nominated to be on the homecoming court.
Jarvis and Ashley
"They're not on the sidelines anymore," said Kathy Herzog. "They're not just waiting for everybody else to go and do whatever's happening, but they're participating now."
Kathy Herzog said the school just recently started allowing students in Exceptional Education to be represented in Homecoming.
"Her teacher and the school has embraced who these children really are, which is just like everybody else," she said.
Jarvis and Ashley
CBS 6 was there when Jarvis and Ashley were recognized out on the field during halftime alongside their classmates.
However, due to release forms, we were only able to film Jarvis and Ashley with their parents permission.
Special Education Advocate, Vicki Beatty said this is a wonderful movement, as these students don't go into the general education classrooms.
"The fact that they are represented in the court for the entire homecoming, it's the right thing to do," said Beatty.
"I hope everybody gets an opportunity to be part of what's going on, this is great, it's homecoming so we all should be celebrating," said Herzog
