Whomever said silence can speak louder than words really knew what they were talking about — especially, when you hear what a school’s graduating students did for their classmate.

Jack Higgins, a student at Carmel High School in Putnam County, New York, is autistic, non-verbal, and has a severe sensitivity to noise.

Sitting through a 45 minute, crowded and loud graduation was extremely questionable for Jack, but his parents felt it important to participate in graduation, along side his special needs teacher, Erin Appelle.

Erin had the idea to ask the auditorium to be alert to their classmate, and asked if everyone would stay silent while Jack received his diploma, which would happen right after the National Anthem so he wouldn’t have to sit through the full 45 minute graduation, and all the commotion, might be too much.

When graduation day came and it was time for Jack to walk across the stage, he approached his diploma with his fingers in his ears in anticipation for clapping, but everyone had a different approach.

The students applauded Jack by barely touching their hands together, and gave their classmate a standing ovation in silence.

Principal Lou Riolo couldn’t be prouder of his students, sharing, “Their actions of standing up in honor of their classmate was their idea. It was not rehearsed.  It was genuine,” continuing, “[I’m] not surprised but in awe of their caring.”