Senior Ashton Smith works to fire up the students in an Alice In Wonderland-themed costume he designed for Parker the Panther. He and his mom have worked together on his costumes for the past four years. (Alicyn Logue)

Ashton Smith, better known as Parker the Panther, had been the mascot for four years. Everyone loved him behind the mask, but without the mask he could easily be missed. Few knew he was non-verbal as a child. Becoming a mascot in middle school completely changed his life.

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