Homecoming 2012 has had no shortage of inspiring stories from high schools across the country -- this year, a teen who battled flesh-eating bacteria was named homecoming princess, Florida's first female quarterback traded in her helmet for a tiara, and a reality TV star helped one boy create an epic proposal for his crush. Last Friday Alex Milan, a student with Down Syndrome, was crowned homecoming queen to a standing ovation from the entire student body at Gull Lake High School in Michigan.
With an overwhelming majority of the student vote, the 18-year-old senior took the crown at the homecoming pep rally. Alex was escorted onto the field by her father, Jeff Milan, who has terminal lymphoma. Teacher and Interim Vice-Principal Matt Hawking told the Kalamazoo Gazette that the event was a touching experience for all who attended.
Watch the video above and head over to the Kalamazoo Gazette to read the full story.
"There's very few times in an educational career where you see such a large group of kids have this many staff people moved to tears," Hawkins said. "What they did for Alex is a huge thing. It's something they should feel proud of their entire lives."
Alex's peers were no less enthusiastic about her win. According to the Daily Mail, the students voted for Alex because she is the "nicest person in our class."
"[The students] were saying, 'We didn't nominate her because she has Down Syndrome. We nominated her because she's the nicest person in our class,'" Alex's mother, Jodie Milan, told the Gazette. "It's nice that they look away from the disability and see her as a real person."
Last year, 18-year-old Mariah Slick became the first student with Down Syndrome to be crowned homecoming queen at Azle High School in Texas. Her story was covered by several news outlets and quickly went viral.
“She is well-liked by everybody,” a friend of Slick's told CBS. “She is sweet -- a real sweetheart!”
Are you inspired by Alex's honor? Does your school have an amazing homecoming story to share? Tell us in the comments below or tweet @HuffPostTeen!
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