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From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF TYLER TRENT, A PURDUE BOILERMAKER
______
HON. SUSAN W. BROOKS
of indiana
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life
and legacy of Tyler Trent, a twenty-year-old Purdue University student
journalist and super fan who devoted his all too short life to
inspiring and helping others. He recently lost his battle with cancer
as 2019 began. Tyler Trent is now a name known in households across the
nation for his love of Purdue football and his inspiring passion and
energy as a fan. The people of Indiana's Fifth Congressional District
are forever grateful for Tyler's significant impact on Purdue
University, the State of Indiana, and our nation.
Tyler was a life-long Hoosier, a native of Carmel, Indiana and son of
Tony and Kelly Trent. The oldest of three brothers, he was always
described as a special kid who ``stood out'' his entire life. This
maturity would follow Tyler throughout his life as he faced three
consecutive battles with osteosarcoma or bone cancer, starting at the
age of 15. Determined not to let cancer impede his dreams of attending
Purdue University, Tyler graduated from high school and scored in the
1500s on the SAT. His hard work and dedication to success earned him
the Presidential Scholarship to Purdue in early 2017. This scholarship
is awarded to individuals with high academic achievement, leadership,
and service in their school or community. Determined to not let cancer
dictate his life, Tyler began college at Purdue University in the fall
of 2017. Unwavering in his dream to be a Boilermaker and become a
national sports writer, Tyler attended class during the week and
returned home on the weekends for cancer treatment at Riley Hospital
for Children.
His remarkable spirit was evidenced by his unwillingness to let
cancer impede his passion for Boilermaker football, attending Purdue
football games and cheering on his favorite team whenever possible. His
passion was quickly recognized by Coach Jeff Brohm, who admired his
fight and inability to quit. When asked about his future, Tyler stated,
``The immediate future in my mind . . . Purdue beats number two-ranked
Ohio State.'' And they did. He also earned the position of honorary
team captain. The team often credited Tyler for their wins,
particularly the Old Oaken Bucket game. Ever committed to his
Boilermakers, he attended his last game while in hospice care.
Beyond Tyler's love of sports was a love of doing good. Even as he
battled osteosarcoma, Tyler thought of others, forming an organization
called Teens With a Cause where he raised over $100,000 for pediatric
cancer research. The organization recruited kids to do service projects
for families affected by cancer, such as raking leaves, shoveling snow
and running errands. Tyler also volunteered with the Purdue Dance
Marathon, which raises money for Riley Hospital for Children and the
Purdue Center for Cancer Research. Committed to advancing research and
curing his cancer, Tyler donated the tissue from his tumor for
research, one of the first osteosarcoma patients at Riley to do so.
When speaking about tissue donation, Tyler said ``I feel like I'm
getting to view my legacy come to life. I'm incredibly thankful that
I'm getting to see the impact tissue donation is having. Most people
don't get to live long enough to see their impact but I'm getting
blessed with that.''
A true testament to his outstanding character, Tyler was the subject
of ESPN features and received the Sagamore of the Wabash, the highest
Hoosier honor bestowed by Governor Holcomb. In December 2018, he was
the recipient of Disney's Wide World of Sports Spirit Award, given
annually to college football's most inspirational individual or team.
When Tyler received that award, he said, ``At the end of the day,
there's always a light at the end of the tunnel and as long as you rely
on your faith, things will work out.'' Finally, Tyler wrote an
autobiography entitled The Upset: Life, Sports, Death, and the Legacy
in Between, The `TYLER STRONG' Story, with a portion of every purchase
being donated to cancer research in Trent's name.
It is with that optimistic and positive outlook on life that Tyler
was able to inspire the nation. He has united Americans far and wide to
be Boilermakers. Tyler will be forever missed by his family, friends,
colleagues, and the entire Purdue community. I hope we can all live
every day as he did: #Tyler Strong. On behalf of Indiana's Fifth
Congressional District, I extend my deepest condolences to Tyler's
parents, Tony and Kelly Trent, his two brothers,
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Ethan and Blake, and his extended family and friends who mourn his
loss. Tyler's inexplicable ability to find good in every situation will
continue to inspire the State of Indiana and our nation, now and in the
future.
____________________