During halftime of last week’s Bridgeport-Fairmont Senior Homecoming contest, I was able to stop writing my halftime summary long enough to hear the announcement of this year’s Homecoming Queen. And I was I glad that I did.

 

It’s not a state secret that this year’s winner was Megan Krohe. It’s also no secret for those in attendance that the uproar of applause and cheers from the huge crowd at Wayne Jamison Field was arguably the loudest ever for the announcement of the Homecoming Queen. While that may be debatable, what is less debatable is that there were fewer dry eyes than ones filled with tears on this special evening.

 

Here’s something that’s not debatable at all. After roughly a year and a half into the existence of Connect-Bridgeport.com, no story has ever been read and clicked on more than the story Saturday about Megan. As of the time of this posting, Megan’s story had been clicked on nearly 16,000 times. That surpassed the other 15,000-plus story on Connect’s Web site involving the siting of the black bear in Bridgeport. When you add up the total number of people that at the very minimum viewed and read the post on Facebook, Twitter or elsewhere, the numbers are over 100,000 through all forms of social media. On Facebook alone, the story was shared more than 1,000 times. Incredible.

 

Unlike the bear story, which was powered by some incredible photos and curiosity, Megan’s story was powered by something else – she’s perhaps the most popular student at Bridgeport High School and one of the most popular young ladies in Bridgeport and beyond. Her popularity is the result of doing something that not everyone does anymore. Megan Krohe thrives on being herself and that’s good enough for her and everyone that knows her.

 

So why is Megan so special and so darn popular?

 

The old theory about the apple and the tree surely applies with Megan and her parents. Jay and Ann Krohe are two of the best people I’ve ever run across and I’m not alone in that assessment. Of course, Megan being Megan is another big reason, and she’s that way because of her family. After last weekend’s Homecoming event, Jay sent me an email asking if I would be willing to post a personal thank you to the Bridgeport community and everyone else. I told him I would. Here’s what it said.

 

“Words will never express how humbled and appreciative we are over the selection of our daughter, Megan Krohe, as the 2013 Bridgeport High School Homecoming Queen. The last few weeks have been overwhelming in a very positive way. We could spend the next 20 years trying to thank everyone who played a part and never get to everyone who deserves thanks. We are very fortunate to have such great friends and family and to live in one of the greatest communities anywhere. We want to thank the staff and Administration at BHS for all of their support; the student body at BHS and especially the cheerleaders and their coaches. You are an amazing testament to what is great about our community. To all of our family and friends who took the time to show how much Meg means to them by coming to the game, (some from across the county, other parts of the state and from out of state) sending gifts, calling, or taking the time to let Meg know how happy they were for her. It was overwhelming and appreciated,” – Jay and Ann Krohe.

 

Of course, when I called Jay and told him we’d run his thank you we started talking. In the process, I asked Jay to see if Megan wanted to talk about her experience. And she did; very humbly and very well written in an email she sent to me. Here’s what that response said verbatim.

 

“I wanted to send you a letter to tell you why I was so happy to be picked as Homecoming Queen. First, it was such an honor to be picked to be on the court. I was so emotional when I was picked. I had lots of happy tears. It was one of the best blessings in my 18 years. The parade, the assembly, the Dance and the Game were so much fun. The game was the best. I was so surprised when I got picked to be the queen. When they said my name I was very happy. I am very grateful and thankful. I wanted to thank everyone who supported me. Thanks to everyone,” – Megan Krohe.

 

Most of you already know that Megan has Down syndrome, a genetic disorder. I didn’t mention it earlier because in the life of Megan Krohe and her family, it’s a secondary issue, and something the family decided a long time ago that they wouldn’t let stand in the way of Megan having a normal life the same as her two older brothers.

 

“Megan has had an unreal support group her whole life. It’s why the way she is, but I’ve also got to give my wife so much credit,” said Jay. “(Ann) is a special education teacher and her agenda from the time Megan was born was that Megan was going to be treated like everyone else, she needs to be prepared and we’re not going to shelter her. That’s what we’ve wanted for our daughter.”

 

And that’s what they’ve gotten.

 

Megan Krohe is involved in just about everything at Bridgeport High School. She’s a discus thrower on the track team and she also is a student assistant coach for the cheerleading squad. And now she’s the 2013 Homecoming Queen who you can catch on the stage starting this coming week as part of the cast of the play Godspell at Bridgeport High School.

 

“A lot of what she does is the result of her personality. She’s the most positive person I know. Sure, she worries about everyone else, but she’s usually happy,” said Jay. “The biggest worry she had before Homecoming was that she was afraid people would be disappointed in her if she didn’t win. I told her she would be fine no matter what and she seemed okay with that.”

 

Had it just ended with Megan being a member of the Homecoming Court, Jay Krohe said everyone would have been more than happy. Instead, he said he was treated to one of the highest points in his life when his daughter's name was announced.”

 

“The look on her face was the best ever because I knew she was nervous and worried. I think she wasn’t totally sure what was supposed to happen, but it all worked out and I can’t tell you how great it’s been,” Jay said.

 

For the Krohe family, the weeks and days leading up to Homecoming was more affirmation to them that Megan was in the best situation possible. He said what they saw humbled them.

 

“We knew that some of the girls that were on the court were lobbying for Megan to win. Really, that kind of stuff renews your faith in human beings because these are kids that are being selfless,” Jay said. “Then, you look at the support of all the kids and those cheerleaders who are just so positive with Megan. Those girls are like mother hens to Megan. There are also about four girls on that court this year that have been like guardian angels to Megan since the fifth grade. How do you thank people completely for that? I can’t say it enough.”

 

But the support wasn’t just from the school, the students and the Bridgeport community. Jay said he looked up and saw so many of his family’s friends that are usually at other high school games on Friday nights yelling down at him and Megan offering support.

 

“I joked with my friends that there were more fans from RCB at the game than I’ve ever seen outside of them playing there. I could never convince them to come see a football game here, but our friends came to see Megan. A lot of them were on the Fairmont side of the field and when I started walking over there around half time I hear a huge scream and see all of these green shirts standing up and yelling for Megan. That’s just so awesome,” Jay said with a laugh.

 

Of course, by the time Saturday rolled around, Megan Krohe was one tired young lady. Her father told her to go to the dance and when she was ready, he’d come and get her – and that it would be just fine.

 

“I think it was about 45 minutes after she got there that she called. She said she was having fun, but she was really tired,” Jay said. “It was the end of a really special time for Megan.”

 

Jay said he couldn’t help but think back to the day Megan was born and the time period soon after when she was officially diagnosed with Down syndrome. He said he can still recall a lot of sad looks on the faces of so many they knew as they realized there were challenges ahead.

 

“I told Ann just the other day that it’s really hard to find a negative in all of this,” he said. “We’re just happy that our daughter is happy.”

 

Perhaps Jay is right to be happy and not be negative. After all, Jay and Ann Krohe are parents to the most popular student in Bridgeport. 

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Megan Krohe and her father Jay reacting as her name is announced as the Queen. Seconod photo shows Megan prior to Homecoming getting gifts from the cheerleading squad, while the third photo shows the packed crowd showing their support. In the fourth photo, BHS Principal Mark DeFazio, right, and 2012 Homecoming Queen Kallie Nealis crown the newest Queen. Proud parents Jay and Ann Krohe pose for a photo following the crowning ceremony.