NEW BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - As Chris Kampeter walked down the hallway at New Bloomfield High School on his last day of school, almost every student acknowledged him with a wave, smile or a "hello."
Chris, 20, has Down syndrome. Although he only attended New Bloomfield High School for one year before graduating Friday, his teachers, family and fellow students agree he has been an inspiration for many. And for Chris, his time at the school has been filled with happy memories - which is all his mother, Cindy Kampeter, has ever wished for her son.
Cindy said she and her husband are grateful for all of the students who took time to get to know their son.
"It's amazing. We just feel so fortunate that he's in this class. ... this was the perfect time," Cindy said. "We just feel we were meant to move here and this is why. We prayed - just let us find a place where he will be safe and loved and learn and further himself and our prayers were answered."
"Always a friend'
Chris' mom describes him as "always a friend." She said Chris can teach others important lessons.
"If you open your heart to somebody, he can teach you so much about compassion and love. ... he loves unconditionally. He forgives and forgets it. He's always happy to see you," Cindy said of her son.
When his teacher Malinda Cline asks Chris who his buddy is, Chris clasps his hands together tightly, slightly rests his head on his hands and with a big smile says, "Rose."
Rose Jackson, who was also a senior and graduated Friday, said her friendship has a positive influence on Chris, and knowing Chris has had a significant impact on her life, as well.
"I used to make a lot of bad decisions. I was addicted to drugs ... and meeting him, it helped me be the person I am, and that was just in a year's time. He helped me. He was a big part of that," Jackson said. "Just making me feel good about myself and giving me some sort of light in my life."
Jackson said she made the choice to stop doing drugs last summer, just before the school year started. She credits Chris with giving her a great deal of the strength she needed to stay clean.
"Meeting him kept motivating me to stay off of it (drugs)," Jackson said. "I finally was off of it for (many) months and could say I'm done with it."
Jackson met Chris early on in the school year. She was part of the A + Scholarship Program in the high school, which had a mentorship component, and asked to work with Cline's class. Rose described Chris as one of her best friends. She and Chris ate lunch together most days. She said seeing him always brightened her day.
"Even just seeing him in the hallways ... literally, he runs after me and just the excitement (he has) and our friendship - I could go on and on about how many moments there were this year," Jackson said.
Jackson said her time helping and mentoring in Cline's classroom made her feel good about herself. And, she added, after the experience and knowing Chris, she wants to teach special education one day.
"It makes me feel awesome that I can impact somebody like that and make them feel motivated," Jackson said.
Transferring to New Bloomfield
Cindy and Jon Kampeter moved back to Mid-Missouri in 2007 to be closer to family, after moving to Colorado when Chris was two years old for Jon's job. Until coming to New Bloomfield's school district this year, they struggled to find an educational institution that was a good fit for their son.
After moving back, Chris bounced around to a couple different schools, mostly in the Cole County area. Finally, Cindy called New Bloomfield Schools Special Services Director Sarah Wisdom and left her a message asking if the school would take her son.
"I was sure I would be met with a "no' answer, but in an answer to our prayers, Sarah called me right back with not just an OK but an "absolutely yes, we would love to have Chris,'" Cindy said in a thank-you letter to the district Thursday.
She said she was expecting a "no" because in their experience, many schools refer students to the state school. The state school, Cindy said, has its purpose, but it wasn't a good fit for Chris.
After seeing her son come home happy each day this past school year, Cindy said she wished Chris could have attended New Bloomfield longer.
"If we had only known when we had moved into the New Bloomfield school district, that would have been such a blessing. He would have gone there as soon as we moved here." Cindy said. "He's included in everything."
That inclusion is something Cline said she and the district push in the special education classrooms.
"The beauty of this building is that we're included," Cline said of her special needs classroom and students.
One of Chris' favorite classes this year has been computer class. But, Cline's class also cooks once a week, takes walks on the district's nature trail and teaches core subjects such as science, which she said is usually the students' favorite subject. Cline said her students also take two classes with regular education students each year. In those classes, she modifies her students assignments and tests to meet the requirements of their Individualized Education Program (IEP), an outline for each special needs student that specifies their learning needs. But, her students participate in class activities and lectures with the regular education students, which helps them get to know students in their grade-level, she said.
During the fall semester, the high school's students voted Chris homecoming king, which his mother described as a big moment for him. When Chris was presented as king at homecoming, Cindy said she heard a man in the audience near her say, "Our kids got it right, they know how important this is."
Life after graduation
Chris, according to his parents, gets attached to people and places. While they both said they are excited for their son, they are also a bit worried how he will react when his daily routine no longer includes the halls, classrooms and faces of New Bloomfield High School, which have become such a comfort and source of happiness for him.
"I'm sad (to have him leave New Bloomfield)," Cindy said. "It's just been an incredible year for him."
However, Cindy said her son always surprises her with how adaptable he is to all of the changes he has had during his education and in life.
Starting Monday, Chris will attend a day center in Jefferson City that has a job training component. His parents both agreed Chris seems like he would be most happy working. He has held part-time jobs in the past, which he enjoyed, Cindy said.
Chris' dream job, his parents added, would be to work as a character at Disney. Their son, they said, loves everything Disney and enjoys making others happy.
"We could all learn from Christopher. He loves everyone, always has a smile or a hug. He forgives easily and loves unconditionally. He could do anything to help someone and feels more deeply than any other person I know," Cindy said.