WGY Mornings with Doug Goudie

WGY Mornings with Doug Goudie

The Capital Region's show for engaging conversations focused on the most important news stories of the day. Plus financial news, sports, lifestyle,...Full Bio

 

Happy Hour: Teen With Autism Gets Silent Ovation At His Graduation

Jack Higgins recently finished up eight years at Carmel High School’s program for students with cognitive, learning or behavior challenges and was ready to graduate. But he has a severe form of autism and is sensitive to noise, so his family wasn’t sure how well he would deal with sitting for hours in a noisy auditorium with hundreds of people.

So his parents talked to the school and principal Lou Riolo came up with an idea: have everyone sit in silence as Higgins crosses the stage to get his diploma. Everyone agreed it was a good idea and at graduation, Riolo asked the audience to keep it quiet before calling Higgins up. He approached the stage with fingers in his ears, ready to block the clapping and cheering he feared, but it didn’t happen. Instead the grad got a silent standing ovation. It wasn’t planned that way, but the students stood quietly to show their support for their classmate, all on their own.

Riolo says,"I have been lucky and blessed to see some really remarkable things in my 31 year career but this so far has to be the most incredible.”

Nice job for the kids, by a restaurant in Troy. "Graham’s Lansingburgh Cafe" is trying to make sure local kids don’t go hungry this summer. They are offering kids under 18 free breakfast from 8:30 to 9:30, mornings, Monday through Friday until school starts again. Kids can get two eggs, any style, and toast. On its Facebook page "Graham's Lansingburgh Cafe" says, “We love helping the community any way we can.” 

And finally, a very touching moment Friday night at the "Summer Night 2019" block party on State Street in Schenectady. 14-year old cancer survivor Evan Franz had a brain tumor removed this year and has been doing music therapy including using Smash Mouth songs. The band played in Schenectady Friday and Evan got to meet one of his idols, "Smash Mouth" lead singer Steve Harwell. Evan's dad John, says it was great.

And Harwell made a big promise to Evan to sing the band's song "All Star" just for him.


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