Junior prince Kelson Robertson and junior princess Jasmine Ellwood watch the Homecoming ceremoney on Friday at Kennison Field in Hermiston.

For the last six months, Jasmine Ellwood has faced some challenges bigger than term papers and state tests.

The Hermiston High School junior has been out of school since April battling Ewing sarcoma, a type of bone cancer. As daily events like sporting events and dance practice were replaced by trips to Portland and chemotherapy, a group of her friends and classmates got together and nominated her for a high school tradition: the homecoming court. Ellwood, 16, was elected homecoming princess for the junior class, and has been in Hermiston this week attending events such as mud wars, the homecoming assembly Thursday and the football game Friday night.

Ellwood said she was pleasantly surprised by the nomination. Her sister, Alysha, started a social media campaign, which encouraged others to vote for Ellwood.

“I was thinking about everything she’s been through, and how her life has changed,” Alysha said. “I went on Twitter, and started posting about electing her. And it really took off.”

Ellwood’s mother, Cindy, said the family was grateful for the support they’ve received from the community.

“I thought it was pretty special this happened,” Cindy said. “Her whole world got turned upside down. To have this going on — it is a big deal. It lets her know she’s still a part of the high school, the community. Just letting her know, we’re still thinking about you, we love you.”

Ellwood has continued to take classes online, but her schooling has been interrupted as she spends days at a time in Portland. Right now, her mother said, she is doing fairly well, and should be finished with chemotherapy in December or January. But, with fluctuating blood cell counts making her susceptible to infection, she will likely not return to school full-time for a while. Since her diagnosis, she and her family have spent most of their time in Portland, where Ellwood has received chemotherapy and radiation therapy at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. Over the course of 31 sessions of radiation treatment, she and her family had to stay in Portland at the Ronald McDonald House, a program that provides housing for families and children battling illnesses who have to travel out of town for care.

Ellwood said she has stayed positive, going to school events when she can. But she said what’s helped her most has been the familiarity of coming back to Hermiston.

“I think the thing that’s helped me the most is being able to be at home with my friends and family,” she said. “I’m in the best mood because it feels normal again.”