High School Quarterback Honors Childhood Promise To Girl With Down Syndrome — Takes Her As His Prom Date

Feb 16, 2022

High school can be hard, but it’s easier when you have a friend by your side. A high school quarterback fulfilled a promise that he had made many years ago and took one of his friends to prom. Ben Moser and Mary Lapkowicz have been friends since grade school. They always had fun playing different games and doing a variety of activities together. No matter what Ben and his other friends or classmates were doing, he always did his best to make sure Mary was included.

The two became friends through school in Pennsylvania. Ben was usually busy with extracurriculars like football, and he even went on to become the quarterback for his school’s team in Susquehanna. Mary worked alongside her father Tom – a math teacher at the Central Dauphin school district, who also helped out with the opposing high school football team. Mary helped out as an equipment manager.

Ben and Mary’s teachers and parents were ecstatic with their friendship and how they seemed to have fun any time they were together. Mary has Down syndrome, and Ben has done everything he can to be a good friend to Mary and make sure that she feels as included as possible.

He kept this beautiful notion going by promising to take Mary to their high school prom. It was a promise he had made when he was only in elementary school. In May 2015, that promise was finally fulfilled, as Ben and Mary got dressed to the nines to attend their high school prom together. Read on to find out more about this beautiful story about a long-lasting friendship. 

Keeping His Word

Ben and Mary have had a wonderful friendship for many years. According to Penn Live, their fourth-grade teacher Tracey Spogli noticed that Ben worked hard to make sure Mary was always included in activities. “He watched over her constantly,” Spogli said. “If she was looking like she wasn’t having fun, he would go over and talk to her. He would pull her into whatever activity they were doing. He just always watched out for her.”

Ben’s mother Lisa didn’t notice her son’s friendship with Mary until the end of that school year, according to Penn Live. It was around this time that Ben saw his cousins go to prom, and promised that when he was old enough, he would take Mary to prom.

Ben explained, “I thought Mary was really cool. She was sweet and easy to get along with.” Mary agreed. “He was sweet and he was nice,” she said. However, Mary and her family ended up moving to a different school district. Fortunately, Ben’s school and Mary’s school played against each other in football, reuniting the friends.

Mary's father told the news outlet:

"She talked about going to prom ... I'd taken her to homecoming and stuff, but she had prom on her mind all along."

She wasn't aware that Ben still remembered the vow that he'd made many years earlier, but luckily for Mary, he hadn't forgotten about it. Ben followed through on his promise.

“We got balloons and I wrote ‘prom’ on it,” Ben said. “I presented her with the balloons and asked her to go to prom with me.”

Mary admitted that she was surprised by the prom-posal.   

When it came time for the big day on May 8, 2015, the pair posed for photos outside Mary’s home as they got ready to go to their high school prom. Ben wore a tux while Mary wore a pretty lavender dress. Although they went to rival schools, it was clear that nothing could keep these childhood friends apart. When asked about the fact the couple would have to set aside their schools' rivalry, Ben joked to Penn Live:

"I don't think it should be too weird ... There (are) good kids there."

A video about the incident that was released by Penn Live has since gone viral, as it's racked up over 3.9 million views! People in the comments were understandably moved by the sweet story. Many people commended Ben for his actions, as well as his parents for raising him. One person wrote: 

"This boys parents should be very proud of how they raised him."

Many others commended Ben, and one even called him a "fine gentleman." Others noted that he had "brotherly instincts." Others pointed out that although he's a quarterback, he's a friend first. They said:

"This isn't a quarterback that happens to be friends with her. This is her friend that happens to be a quarterback."

However, just as many other people talked about how sweet and gorgeous Mary was. One person wrote:

"Everyone is talking about the guy, but the girl is so pretttttyyyy. I love her hair and makeup especially"

Ben and Mary's story is one of true friendship, which is why it's resonated so much with people all over the world.  

Were you moved by this heartwarming story? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your loved ones as well.