WATCH: South Meck students share excitement as classmate with autism elected Homecoming King

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Students at South Mecklenburg High School banded together to make sure one of their classmates had a special homecoming.

Blake Rice, who has autism, was elected as the school's Homecoming King.

It was a victory that had the students and faculty going wild, and brought them to their feet, cheering for their fellow Sabre.

"I think it’s amazing that everyone’s coming together and just voting for him and giving him that shot,” student Brandon Baldwin said. “You see the reaction on his face. He was just jumping around dancing. He was so happy."

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools tweeted out video of the newly crowned king dancing around as the students cheered him on.

"We are so proud of you for this amazing display of love and inclusion," CMS said on social media.

The posted video on Facebook and Twitter pages has racked up thousands of views and hundreds of shares.

The students shared in the joy for their classmate.

“I voted for him because he’s always happy, you know?” said student Parsa Ghaffari. “He’s a real sweet kid.”

Rice’s father, who is a teacher at the school, thanked the school in a statement, calling what happened, “a referendum on kindness."

"By choosing a kid like Blake, you showed the world that you value above all else, inclusion,” he said. “You showed the world that as Sabres we celebrate our diversity as our strength. You championed the most vulnerable kid, because to you, it was the right thing to do."

“It was so heartwarming,” Ghaffari said. “Everyone has the same blood and everyone is human and no one should be treated differently."

(Click below to watch the video)

Cox Media Group