It was the moment that captivated millions – the story of a Ringgold teenager with autism who got the chance to get in a football game and score a touchdown.
Flash forward to this May, as the teen gets ready to graduate high school.
It's already a cause for celebration, but the senior has an even bigger reason to celebrate.
11Alive first introduced Atlanta to Logan Pickett last October. He is the Heritage High School senior with autism and often struggles in new social situations – except on the football field.
Logan became a fixture as the team’s energetic manager, even spawning a catchphrase: “Let me hear you!”
PHOTOS | Logan's Big Play
PHOTOS | Logan's Big Play
But during one game this past season, Logan’s teammates and opponents conspired to put him on the field to have a different moment – delivering a touchdown of his very own on the gridiron.
The story first gained local fame in Ringgold, then the story from 11Alive’s Matt Pearl spread on Facebook worldwide – to more than 60 million people!
Logan’s reaction to all the attention: “Do you think people in Disney World saw it?”
With some behind-the-scenes help from 11Alive, we made sure they did.
RAW VIDEO | Watch Logan's big play on the field
Class night is a time of celebration for the senior class of Heritage High School. But for Logan, it was also a night of big surprises.
Thanks to the 11Alive Help Desk, he’s going to continue the graduation celebrations in a giant way.
Bill Liss, the captain of the 11Alive Help Desk, reached out to Disney World, Sea World, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Southwest Airlines and Chick Fil-A. They all said “Yes” to giving Logan the surprise of his life.
Right after finding out he’s won a senior superlative for school spirit, Logan’s coach brought him over, and then…
“We got one more surprise for you,” he told Logan. “They want to do something special for you as a graduation present. And just because you’re an awesome person, Logan, for free…you’re going to Disney World!”
The news drew a rousing cheer from Logan and thunderous applause from the auditorium.
PHOTOS | Logan learns he's going to Disney World
On Saturday, Logan will cross the graduation stage, but his mind is already on the following Monday, when his family and he leave for Disney World in Orlando, Fla.
As for what he will do when he gets there: “Ride the Small World a hundred times!”
Follow along all next week on 11alive.com and Matt Pearl’s Facebook and Twitter pages as he chronicles Logan’s tour of Disney with the hashtag #LoganGoesToDisney.
