Darby Roberts (CE’22) grew up an avid Indiana University fan. She remembers being the kid in middle school who wore her candy-striped pants and her favorite player’s jersey every time the IU men’s basketball team played.
However, her heroes—Robert Bowen (CE’62, HDR E’07) and the late Tyler Trent (AS T’18)—always shared a deep love for the Old Gold and Black and a gift Roberts deeply admires.
“They both have this ability to recognize others and build them up,” Roberts says. “They have the vision to see both the big things and the little things with kindness and authenticity.”
Trent, who died in 2019 after a battle with osteosarcoma, became a symbol of perseverance and purpose. He advocated for cancer awareness—a mission that drew nationwide attention and united the Purdue community like never before.
Trent founded the group Teens with a Cause, a student organization that performs service projects for families affected by cancer. He was also an active participant in the Purdue Dance Marathon and the first student member of the Director’s Advancement Board for the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research.
But the reason why Roberts admires Trent is much more personal.
The two future Boilermakers grew up in the same neighborhood in Carmel, Indiana, and swam on the local swim team. When Roberts chose Purdue to study engineering, Trent reached out unprompted to offer guidance on life as a Boilermaker—and continued to share tips once she arrived on campus. They even took a class together.
“We weren’t the closest, but we were always friendly with one another,” Roberts says. “It was nice to have a touch of home and somebody familiar checking in.”
In the end, it was Trent’s kindness that made a lasting impact.
“Tyler had so much going on that it would have been easy for him to focus only on himself,” Roberts says. “Instead, he saw that I was a new student who could use a friend and a resource. He saw gaps in funding for other kids fighting cancer. The fact that, despite everything he was facing, he still looked out for others—it’s something you take to heart.”
As a student, Roberts was active in the Purdue Reamer Club, piloting both the Boilermaker Special and the Boilermaker Xtra Special. She was also a member of Chi Epsilon, the civil engineering honor society. Like Trent, she participated in the Dance Marathon as a member of the Riley Relations and Logistics Committees.
“I’ve been doing the dance marathon since sixth grade,” Roberts says. “In college, I got to connect with the families, get to know them, and help with the overall production and logistics of the event. That was incredibly meaningful to me.”
As for Bowen, Roberts sees him not only as a role model but also as a bonus grandfather, having known him her entire life. Bowen and his wife, Terry, live in Indianapolis.
“As Bob would put it, I’m a ‘grandkid wannabe,’” Roberts says.
Now semiretired, Bowen is the founder and former CEO of Bowen Engineering and the Donn E. Hancher Distinguished Fellow in the Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering’s Division of Construction Engineering and Management. Together with Terry, he created the Bowen Family Foundation, which provides scholarships to students throughout Indiana.
“Bob loves giving back, being involved, investing in the next generation, and bringing them up,” Roberts says. “He often jokes that he’s a Hoosier by birth and a Boilermaker by the grace of God.”
Their connection began when Roberts was a child, watching her dad participate in Bowen’s annual group bike ride from Indianapolis to West Lafayette on the morning of the first home football game—a tradition known as the nut stick ride. Roberts eventually joined the ride herself, establishing the foundation for a lasting friendship that grew even stronger once she became a Purdue student.
By then, Roberts and Bowen frequently shared meals and attended events together. Roberts recalls that Bowen always introduced her to new people and made sure everyone felt like they had a seat at the table. During these introductions, she noticed what inspired her most about Bowen—he calls everyone he knows his hero. And he means it.
“Bob is everyone’s biggest fan—he puts so much positivity out into the world—and I aspire to be part of that,” says Roberts, who now works at the infrastructure solutions firm HNTB in Indianapolis.
“I learned a lot from Tyler and Bob, and I try to apply it in my daily life,” Roberts says. “When I see people who are just starting out, I like to look out for them and bring them into as many conversations as possible. Through Tyler and Bob, I’m reminded that even when I’m stressed out, there’s someone who could benefit from me taking the time to slow down and spread positivity.”
“Victories & Heroes: Your Campaign for Purdue” is inspired by the powerful words of Purdue’s fight song, recognizing those who came before. If you have a Purdue hero in your life, we want to hear from you—share your story for an opportunity to be featured.
You can also contribute to the campaign today! Your investment will strengthen Purdue, elevate the university’s reputation, and expand opportunities for current and future Boilermakers.
—Keagan Slocum
