AL HR217

Commends Benjamin Wortham of Madison, Alabama, a sophomore at James Clemens High School, for being named an Alabama Public Television 2025 Young Hero.

Benjamin Wortham maintains a 3.7 GPA and excels in music, art, and photography as a member of the archery team, Competition Marching Band, Symphonic Band, and Honor Band; he won first place nationally in 2021 for clarinet composition and again placed first at his high school in photography and music composition this year.

Wortham was born dead with an APGAR score of 0, resuscitated at birth, and diagnosed with autism and Global Cerebral Atrophy resulting in missing brain tissue, poor muscle tone, and vision and hearing impairments; despite a dire prognosis, he learned to talk, sit, and walk through extensive therapy.

As a special needs student with an IEP, Wortham uses assistive devices like "Talk to Text" and demonstrates exceptional aptitude for mathematics; he has transitioned from Developmental Pre-K to regular kindergarten and continues in mainstream education.

Wortham volunteers with Toys 4 Tots, works part-time in his family's bakery, serves as a youth orchestra intern, and models empathy by openly discussing his conditions to foster inclusion and acceptance among his peers.