 |
(This Article Reproduced from the Farzee Forum)
Community
pulls together to help Frazee High School student
• by Barbie
Porter
 |
| Erica Ratz, Brittany Munger and Tabiatha Hart are selling pins, wristbands and collecting change from the district-wide penny wars competition to raise funds for the Shipman family. Photo by Barbie Porter |
 |
 |
| Instructor John Olson (right) gives students directions on how to construct the fish house that will be auctioned off during the Shipman benefit. Students are (from left) Wes Trautman, Logan Aho, Jordan Bergstrom, Cody Richter and Eric Laine (next to Olson). Photo by Barbie Porter |
Friends of Frazee High School senior Tyler Shipman describe the 18 year old as talkative, funny, inventive and generous.
Not one described him as a young man with cancer.
From teachers to friends, most say Tyler would be mortified by the attention he's receiving due to his illness - from news articles to the multiple fundraisers in the community.
High School Counselor Ta Fett explained, while Tyler would be appreciative of the community's help, being the center of attention is not in his nature.
English teacher Mary Olson reiterated Ta's sediment.
"Even though Tyler would not really like a lot of attention, he is gracious and thankful for the goodness shown to him and his family," Mary said.
She first met Tyler last spring during the Day of Caring event, where students go into the community and assist with spring cleanup.
"I had seen him in the hallway ... I always noticed him - not because he drew attention to himself, but because he didn't," Mary said. "When I finally got to have him in class this year, I was happy to get to know him better."
During the first weeks of school Mary noticed Tyler was in pain.
"He never complained, but you could just see it in his eyes and in the way he struggled to walk," Mary said.
Vocational Ag teacher Ken Hammer has Tyler in three classes throughout the day.
"I have him first hour for advanced welding, third hour for an independent study on auto restoration and fifth hour as a student assistant," Ken said. "He has been one of my best students the past two years."
"When I take class roll every school day, I miss Tyler's presence," he continued. "He brings a good work ethic, with common sense and a great sense of humor to my classroom or shop. Those attributes make him a well-rounded and knowledgeably student assistant who is not afraid to tackle the many tasks asked of him. I am the lucky one to have such a great student."
Ken also misses their debates on solving the world's problems.
"We may not always agree on how to solve the world's problems, but that's OK, it's still fun discussing issues and getting someone else's perspective," Ken said.
Out of school, Ken discovered Tyler is an entrepreneur. The young man owns a potato truck, which he drives or leases.
"It isn't very often that you see a person of his age with the initiative to start up a business of this magnitude," Ken noted.
Even though Tyler is a man who excels in school and business, his generous nature is always present.
"He was kind enough to bring me some potatoes left over from a field earlier this fall," Ken recalled. "This is pretty typical of his generosity to myself and others."
Once Ken began recalling the selfless acts of kindness he'd received from his student, the stories began to flow.
"Back in September Tyler borrowed to me, free for a weekend, an ATV storage rack and seat that he had given his mother," Ken said.
Always willing to go the extra mile, Tyler also gave him directions to a scenic area worth seeing a few miles off the beaten ATV path north of Akeley.
"It's times like that, that make me think of Tyler as a friend, not just a student of mine," Ken said.
While Tyler is his own man, Ken said it's easy to see where he gets his values, attitude and determination.
"Tyler and his parents are all very determined individuals with a strong religious faith," Ken said. "I admire them very much for how well they are handling the situation that they have been dealt. I pray for them and think of them and their family every day."
Leaders are often points of inspiration for those around them, and his English teacher noted to see Tyler's true character look no further than the outpouring of love and generosity from his classmates and the community.
"When I think of Tyler I think of just a simple goodness - an ordinary young man with extraordinary strength and integrity and humility," Mary said. "(He is) a kid who likes to be with his family. (He is also) a kid with a winning, engaging smile and laugh who has the most loyal and committed friends in the world."
Those friends recently sent Tyler a banner signed with well wishes. While it can be hard to say what is in the heart, classmate Cody Richter, found the words, "The strength of you and your family amazes me, but doesn't surprise me. Hang in there buddy, you can beat this."
Cody met Tyler in elementary school, but the two didn't become close friends until about sixth grade.
"Tyler is always there to lend a helping hand when you need it," Cody said.
The two most recently rebuilt a stand-up jet ski. While the boys did a "monster paint job" on it and have it running, no one has taken it for a spin.
"No one is brave enough to take it out on the lake," Cody said, noting on the first try it filled with water.
While Cody misses Tyler's helping hand on projects, he really looks forward to sharing more laughs, and hot sauce, upon his return to Frazee.
"He has a thing about being able to drink hot sauce," Cody noted. "Things never get boring when Tyler is around."
Classmate Shane Dahring also told his friend to continue fighting the cancer.
"Beat this and get out of the hospital," Shane said. "We are all hoping and praying for you."
Shane met Tyler in third grade, during gym class.
"I think it was the second or third day of school," Shane recalled.
Since that day nine years ago the boys have been close friends, sharing life experiences and friendly competitions.
"He would be the one to out fish me on Tyler Lindsay's Lake," Shane reported. "He always makes me laugh and have a good time. He is fun to hang out with and be with. You can trust him and he always has your back."
In turn, the community is showing Tyler that same sense of dedication and support.
Multiple fundraisers are ongoing to help defray medical costs the family has incurred.
Selling a button picturing Tyler is one of the most recent fundraisers. The picture that is used on the button was taken by Jay Shurman Photography of Detroit Lakes.
Caulfield Studios of Detroit Lakes used the photo to make buttons and donated them to help raise money for the Shipman family.
Three of John Olson's shop classes are also busy creating an ice fishing house to be sold during the Shipman benefit Sunday, Nov. 15 from 1-8 p.m., at the Frazee Event Center
The four-hole angling fish house will be fully insulated, have steel siding on the outside and will be wired for lights and includes a propane heater. The dimensions will be 6- by 8-feet and about 7 feet tall.
Olson said the project came about after the news broke about Tyler.
"I thought of the fish house and asked Tyler's friend, Cody, what he thought," Olson recalled. "Cody thought it was a good idea because Tyler is a real sportsman, so it was a project to represent Tyler and hopefully raise some money for his family."
While the students are donating time to build the house, Steel Wood Supply donated the material and delivered it to the school.
"That was a huge donation," Olson said. "But I still needed to raise money for the insulation and to finish it off, so I sent out an e-mail to the teachers and the response was phenomenal."
Tyler was scheduled to be in Olson's construction trades class, but withdrew at the beginning of the year due to his back pain.
"He's always been one of those big-time shop kids," Olson said. "He was always around welding or working on engines. We miss him."
Frazee High School senior Tyler Shipman is asking for help from area motorheads and Fiero fanatics.
Shipman, 18, was recently diagnosed with an aggressive cancer which can't be treated.
On Pennock's Fiero Forum, Shipman wrote, "Not knowing how long I'll be here (they say could be till spring or longer or shorter), I'm just trying to find some way to get it restored before I pass. I love this car."
Shipman's car is a white and silver 1986 Fiero GT.
Work to be done included:
• A cracked front bumper.
• A cracked left tail light cover.
• A failing fuel injector or the fuel pump is missing.
• Seats are ripping at the seams.
• Minor paint issues.
"I don't want people to think I'm just asking for handouts or anything," he wrote. "I just love that car and being fixed up would just make me feel so good. I don't want to leave not having her mint."
To comment or read the Shipman's thread on Pennock's Fiero Forum go to: www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/104362.html.