Autumn Platt, a 17-year-old Lowndes High School student, was recognized by Mayor John Gayle at the June 11 City Council Meeting as the winner of the 2015 Mayor’s Council for Persons with Disabilities Essay Contest. Platt’s family joined her at the meeting, where she publicly read part of her heartwarming essay, titled “Disability or BIG Ability?” The paper details her life-changing encounter with a differently-abled youth during a recent family vacation. Platt received a $500 check for her outstanding work from the Mayor’s Council for Persons with Disabilities Board. Click here to read Platt’s essay on the City of Valdosta website. Congratulations, Autumn Platt.