GULL LAKE, MI

-- If elections for homecoming queens are popularity contests, then

students say it makes perfect sense that Alex Milan took this year's crown in a landslide vote.

"Everybody knows her and she's so charismatic," said Khelsea Younker, a Gull Lake senior and one of the Alex's close friends. "She's always trying to cheer people up."

But Alex doesn't fit the typical profile of a popular high school girl: The 18-year-old senior has Down Syndrome and spends part of her school day in a special-education classroom.

Yet since sixth grade, when Alex transferred to Gull Lake Community Schools from Delton Kellogg, her classmates have surrounded her with support and affection.

"Sixth grade is a tough time for kids, especially those with special needs," said Jodie Milan, Alex's mother. "But these kids have really stepped up to the plate."

In fact, by all accounts, Alex has had a fairly conventional high school experience, right down to several boys who always make sure she has a date to a school dance, Jodie Milan said.

For several years, said Khelsea and Pat Gaudard, also a senior, the Gull Lake Class of 2013 figured that Alex would be a perfect homecoming queen and this fall, the campaigning began in earnest. The senior class traditionally picks three candidates for homecoming court and the entire student body votes for homecoming queen. This year, the word was out: Vote for Alex.

Last Friday, Homecoming Day, was a magical one for Alex: The students gave her a standing ovation when she was introduced at the pre-game pep rally. After classes, a community resident donated a limo to pick up Alex and a group of her friends to take them to lunch, courtesy of the Blackhawk restaurant, and get their nails, makeup and hair done, courtesy of a local salon.

At the homecoming game, Alex's friends and family packed the stands -- Jodie Milan said that a family friend came from Georgia for the event. What made the event especially poignant: Alex was escorted by her father, Jeff Milan, who is suffering from terminal lymphoma.

"There was not a dry eye anywhere," Jodie Milan said.

Matt Hawkins, a Gull Lake teacher serving as interim vice principal, said the entire staff was moved by the event.

"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."

But students say their votes for Alex weren't out of pity.

"There wasn't a single objection made when Khelsea and Hadlee (Hoeksema) proposed the idea to all of us," senior Brian Wiegand posted in a Gull Lake High School blog. "Who could possibly deserve Queen more than this unbelievably loving, enthuasiastic and spirited young girl.

"Sometimes, it's hard to be proud of Gull Lake," Wiegand wrote. "Other times, it can be quite easy and say: 'Yeah. Yeah, that's

my

high school. Because we made the right choice on who should be elected Queen. Because we made the choice based off of who was the most deserving. Because we chose only the kindest of souls to represent our school."

Jodie Milan said that Wiegand's message was underscored by numerous texts that she received by Alex's classmates last week.

"They were saying, 'We didn't nominate her because she has Down Syndrome. We nominated her because she's the nicest person in our class,' " Milan said. "It's nice that they look away from the disability and see her as a real person."