A Tufts University student who recently graduated from a suburban New York high school died Sunday after choking during a hot dog eating contest.
Madelyn “Madie” Nicpon, 20, a standout athlete and student leader for Suffern High School Class of 2019, died at a Boston hospital a day after she fell unconscious at an off-campus charity fundraiser, according to the Journal News.
Thousands of classmates gathered Sunday night to remember the biopsychology major and lacrosse player, the university said in a statement.
Nicpon was nicknamed “Scooter” on her team, and students placed candles around her No. 2 jerseys at the vigil, which was reportedly attended by half the university’s 6,000 students.
Tributes also poured in on social media for the ambitious young woman, who was class president at Suffern with a grade-point average that exceeded 4.0, the paper said.
“Scooter was a true friend and teammate,” her team wrote on Instagram. “She truly valued her relationships with her teammates and coaches. Her reach was far beyond our team — she was a true connector on campus and touched every single person she met.”
Services for the Rockland County native will be held in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey on Friday and Saturday.
