Drew Boynton's infectious smile glows brighter than the golden crown atop his head.

The San Antonio high school senior, who has Down syndrome, bears a slight rash on his forehead from the plastic treasure encrusted with fake jewels that he's hardly removed for two days. Tonight, he'll parade around the stadium as the blue-caped homecoming king at Alamo Heights High School's football game against Lockhart High.

This may be the first time Alamo Heights High students elected a homecoming king or queen with developmental disabilities.

Among the school's 1,500 students, Boynton found an unexpected groundswell of support from those who had met him in art class or seen him in the halls with pep in his step. The student body was elated to crown Boynton homecoming king Wednesday.

"We did it!" he said Thursday as he described his anointment. "Crown, head, king!"

The 17-year-old mentioned his desire to become homecoming king to some students who peer mentor him and other special education students.

Soon, the idea steamrollered through the hallways and cropped up on Twitter and Facebook.

Boynton's fans tacked up posters stating, "Drew B for king!" They whispered, "Vote for Drew," as students cast their ballots.

At least one of his four rivals for the crown did just that.

"When I saw Drew on the ballot, I voted for Drew," said senior Ryan Kenney, a percussionist in the school band and a king finalist. "When people think, 'homecoming king,' they don't think of a special-needs student. It's a nice change of pace."

While Drew Boynton poured lemonade and dished up celebratory doughnuts for his classmates Thursday, Kari Butts, his special education teacher, said Boynton has grown into a classroom leader during the past three years.

Alex Bathie, a senior and student council vice president, said students usually vote arbitrarily for homecoming royalty but not so this year with Boynton's name on the ballot.

Senior Charlotte Burney said she cried when she heard Boynton announced as the school's homecoming king.

"He was so excited about it," said Burney, one of the peer mentors who urged classmates to vote him. "He wanted it and we think he deserved it."

Boynton has just one more request. Since the school's homecoming queen will not be announced until tonight's game, Boynton is lobbying for his personal favorite to take home the tiara - actress Nicole Kidman

jlloyd@expressnews.net