Purdue working on campus memorial of Tyler Trent
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) — Purdue University is “working on ideas” for a physical campus memorial to honor Tyler Trent, according to President Mitch Daniels.
In a one-on-one interview, Daniels said university officials are “centering on” one idea presented. He said more specific details of the memorial will be released soon.
Tyler died on New Year’s Day after his battle with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. He captivated the hearts of the world for his positive spirit and platform to fight the disease.
Daniels could not go into specifics about the memorial, such as if it would be a statue, but said there were many great suggestions for what it could look like.
“I think it is entirely appropriate,” Daniels said. “Now, it is just a matter of trying to determine the best and most tasteful and appropriate way to remember him.”
Purdue fans on Twitter have suggested a statue outside Ross-Ade Stadium, where Tyler camped out for the Michigan game in 2017 following a chemo treatment.
“Consider this my official petition to Purdue Sports to build a statue outside Ross-Ade Stadium in honor of Tyler Trent,” Corey Ross wrote on Twitter. The tweet has more than 3,500 favorites.
Consider this my official petition to @PurdueSports to build a statue outside of Ross-Ade Stadium in honor of @theTylerTrent. Tyler represented everything it means to be a Boilermaker in the purest of forms. I think this picture should be the basis for the statue tent included. pic.twitter.com/nxNFvvVO35— Corey Ross (@CorRock3148) January 2, 2019
Tyler’s father, Tony, said he had not heard of anything official but knew people were talking about a statue outside the stadium that would “always make him first in line.”
In January, The Tyler Trent Cancer Research Endowment at Purdue reached $1 million in donations.
On Purdue’s campus, university icons like Neil Armstrong, Amelia Earhart, John Purdue and John Wooden are memorialized in bronze. Other landmarks, including the Block P, the Hail Purdue Wall, Honor Tracks and The Anvil all represent different initiatives and meanings on campus.