— Photo courtesy of Alonso Nichols/Tufts University

By Jim Clark

Tufts University student Madelyn Nicpon was attending a fundraising event at a private Somerville residence in support of breast cancer research last Saturday, when she began choking while participating in a hot dog eating contest.

Nicpon was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment after losing consciousness, but passed away on Sunday.

Nicpon, 20, from Suffern, NY, was a standout lacrosse player at her hometown high school as well as at Tufts.

Family and friends of Nicpon, as well as her Tufts classmates, have expressed their deepest feelings of grief at her loss.

A candlelight vigil took place on the Tufts campus, attended by approximately 3,00 mourners.

A gofundme fundraiser has been established to assist Nicpon’s family to pay expenses: https://gofund.me/73a0d366