Tears, hugs, smiles, and a pouring of emotion filled Central High School Friday night in Bolivar.

Central High's boys varsity basketball team helped create the very memorable night.

The players nominated 19-year-old senior Kara Marcum for homecoming queen, one of the school's special needs students.

It was clear Kara Marcum is truly loved by her peers.

Kara was born with Down syndrome.

"She's been through a lot," said Keith Marcum, father.

"She has a heart condition, she had surgery when she was 3 1/2 months old, to correct the heart condition and we weren't given much hope she was going to be here today," added Gail Marcum, mother.

But Kara's determination to smile despite her challenges, make her the most popular girl around.

"I think she's everybody's favorite person in the whole school," said Kaleb McKinnie, Kara's homecoming escort.

Kaleb, who plays point guard for the boy's basketball team, said Kara's bubbly personality always scores big with her fans.

"Everybody in the school loves her," he said. "I love her. She's an awesome person to be around."

"That's just the kind of students we have," added Jeff Barnes, CentralHigh principal. "They overlook the disabilities."

"Oh, it's been amazing, 12 years, well more than that," Gail said. "Started in preschool. They've always accepted her, looked past her disability, looked straight into her heart."

Poised, primed and pictured next to her beaming escort, Kara's moment was captured.

"Your 2013 basketball homecoming queen ... Ms. Kara Marcum!," boasted the public address announcer.

"She's my little sister," said Kayla Marcum, sister. "Just seeing everybody so good to her, and treat her like own sister, own daughter, it's emotional just to know she's loved."

It's a moment Central High will always remember - Kara Marcum queen of the night.

"We'll never forget this and Kara will never forget this."

Kara's parents say she plans to work with them on a farm after graduating from high school this spring.