Brotherly love was front and center at a recent Rochester, N.Y., area high school graduation.
Austin Coppola, 17, had told his parents he would not accept his diploma from Fairport High School unless his twin brother, Ty, was allowed to walk with him, according to ABC-affiliate WHAM.
Ty, who has Down syndrome, did not attend the school, but Austin wanted his brother to share the spotlight.
“‘Ty has worked harder than me, he has endured more challenges,'” the twins’ mom, Cheryl Coppola, recalled Austin saying. “‘Yeah, I’ve earned it, I worked hard, but he has worked hard in a different way.'”
Cheryl Coppola told the station that she hesitated at first but eventually called the school after Austin put up a fight.
The request was granted, and the pair walked across the stage together in blue caps and gowns on June 26.
The Coppola brothers reportedly brought the teary-eyed crowd to its feet.
“This is probably going to be one of the most memorable moments of my life and it means so much to me that he can share it with me,” Austin told WHAM.
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