Kai Bianco is a typical 5-year-old: an outgoing, talkative, imaginative, happy kindergartner at Wilmot Elementary School who his teacher calls an ambassador for the class.

“He is a gift to our classroom,” teacher Kristin Manley said of Kai, who was bitten in the head by the family dog when he was 9 months old. “He greets everybody: kids, teachers, parents. He is the essence of friendship. He notices when kids are sad, and he takes the time to greet you, say “hi,” and remember things about you.”