BILLINGS, Mont. - Emily Pennington is an avid sports fan and a cheerleader for Billings West High School in Montana.
She loves basketball, volleyball, the Utah Jazz and Tom Brady.But the 18-year-old also has trisomy 21— a form of Down syndrome.
Before she was 3 years old, she also battled leukemia, open-heart surgery and a rare seizure disorder. Her medical ordeal affected her schooling, putting her on a slower learning path than her peers.
Emily Pennington in her cheerleading uniform. (Credit: Jana Pennington) She and her parents feared the teen would age out of high school because of the school district’s policy, which stated that schools don’t have to enroll students who turned 19 years old on or before September 10 of the school year in question.RELATED: Sofía Jirau becomes 1st Victoria’s Secret model with Down syndromeRecently the school board changed its policy, raising the age to 20 and allowing Emily to graduate in 2023."It feels good," Emily told FOX Television Stations.