Ryan White The school system came to national prominence in 1987 when
Ryan White, a
hemophiliac who contracted
AIDS via a
blood transfusion, enrolled as a student. In contrast to his previous school,
Western School Corporation in
Kokomo, Indiana, which had attempted to segregate him from the student population, Hamilton Heights welcomed Ryan and prepared its students with AIDS education courses. The school was praised for its openness and courage, drawing national news coverage. When Ryan succumbed to his illness in 1990, many students attended his funeral. ==References==