Schalk started bringing his service dog to school with him last year. At first, he would take him only one day a week to get him acclimated to the new environment. Now, Alpha goes everywhere with him, including on the bus and to class.

When Alpha first started coming to school, Schalk observed many students turning their heads and saying, “Wait, is that a dog?” But, over the past few months, the unfamiliarity has faded, and most of the students recognize him now.

Schalk said everyone has been very accepting of having a service dog around the school. So, he wasn’t surprised when he and Fuller went to his teachers and school administrators with the idea to include his four-legged friend in the yearbook and they were all for it.

“Everyone has been a hundred percent supportive of him from the very beginning,” Schalk said.

Schalk uses a number of tools to manage his diabetes, but Alpha has made the biggest difference in helping him to live a normal, full life.

“It has turned my disability into a positive experience,” Schalk said.

Alpha’s presence in the school has not only helped Schalk, but also other students, as well.