Eager.

That’s sophomore Tripp Stratton in a nutshell.

Eager to learn. Eager to be your friend. Eager to be the best version of himself.

He’s outgoing and friendly and always enters a room with a smile. His eagerness is contagious, whether on the tennis court or behind the camera.

It’s no surprise that a whole football student section theme was dedicated to him.

“I talked to Tripp and his mom, Ashle, about it,” paint gang member senior Madison Johnson said. “I think he needed more support, so I texted the group chat and we all planned that week to switch the theme.”

Despite having no evidence of cancer for nine years, Stratton faced the news of his fifth relapse.

But Stratton has received support from every corner of the Derby community.

“It really means so much knowing the love and prayers for me as I have to go through a lot of hard treatments again,” said Stratton, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma before he was 3 years old.

Stratton is a yearbook staffer, and his classmates wrote him positive notes and a gift basket as he went through treatment.

But it grew from there.

HOSA members and the Student Council played a huge supportive role heading into the football game on  Sept. 27.

“The support has made me feel happy, knowing that so many people care about us,” Stratton said.

HOSA members passed out yellow ribbon stickers on Sept. 25 to mark Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and set up a table for Ronald McDonald House Charities.

“They made over a thousand dollars, which is amazing,” HOSA member senior Mallory Baker said. “I felt really honored that we got to help support him and everyone else who is struggling with childhood cancer.”

StuCo added Tripp Tough posters for Premiere Pr1metime and encouraged students to show up wearing their purple and gold.

“I never expected so many people to go all out in purple and gold,” Stratton said. “Knowing the awareness that is spreading about childhood cancer is important too.”

After a long wait, Stratton returned to school in early October, eager to learn and reunite with friends and classmates.