Students to wear purple ribbons to school in Maddie Lauers honor

Maddie Lauer, a Beaverton High School freshman crowned homecoming queen just last month, died Sunday after a long battle with a rare form of thyroid cancer.

The Beaverton High student body surprised the 14 year old when they voted her homecoming queen, the first time the title went to a freshman student, reported KOIN-TV, a Pamplin Media Group news partner.

Involved with “Make-A-Wish” organization dedicated to fulfilling wishes of children with life threatening medical conditions, Maddie’s crowning came "as a big surprise," said a spokesman for the nonprofit group.

Several of Maddie’s friends said they plan to wear purple — her favorite color — to school on Tuesday. On Monday, they gathered to tie purple ribbons in her memory.