Chippy-Chappy, Model Exonian

 Some call him Chappy; others call him Chippy.  In the classroom, he’s a math and science whiz, and on the field, he’s a football star. Chapman is dorm proctor of Cilley Hall, ceramics proctor, and club head of Invention Club, the MecExeter/Engineering Club, H4, and ESSO Empty Bowls. He also plays on Varsity Football in the fall, JV Hockey in the winter, and JV lacrosse in the spring. Senior Tyler Chapman has his many facets, but what most Exonians will agree on is that he is one of the kindest and most genuine students at Exeter, a sort of teddy bear to many.For Chapman, Cilley Hall has been a family-like organization which he could turn to in the face of any obstacle and also give back to with his own kindness and advice. “Cilley Hall is a dorm full of intelligent and thoughtful people.  Whenever I was upset or frustrated, there were many people willing to let a hand and listen to what I had to say,” Chapman said.  “I think that having a support structure or wonderful people like that is invaluable to success here at Exeter.”Most Cilleyites believed that Chapman himself has been one of the most reliable dormmates to turn to.Upper Morgan Burrell of Cilley shared his thoughts about Chapman as a leader even among proctors. “Tyler is the type of guy who everyone, not just the preps, will look to for guidance. His level head and ability to judge a situation both as a student and as a proctor make him a leader within the dorm,” Burrell said. “I think Tyler was made a proctor because while he knows how to have fun, he also is one of the strongest voices of reason in Cilley. He knows how to make a situation fun, but at the same time keep it safe for everyone.”Fellow proctor senior Lloyd Campbell agreed. “Chappy is a nice, thoughtful, and respectable person around the dorm. Everybody in the dorm, including the dorm faculty, will look at Chappy as probably one of the most inspiring people on campus,” Campbell said. “He carries himself well inside the dorm and out. When you are in his presence, he is somehow going to make your day, either with a joke or a great conversation.”Lower Kevin Zhen said that Chapman was a significant figure for many underclassmen especially, with his friendliness and tremendous care for others. “Chippy is an enormous figure for many, especially underclassmen like me. His room is usually filled with boys from all over the dorm and once inside, talking about all kinds of things and getting homework done,” he said. “He personally helped me a lot in my transition to Exeter, offering warm hugs whenever I felt down. But, what cannot be put on paper is his friendly aura that surrounds him whenever he smiles or offers to help anyone in any way.”Apart from the dormitory life, Chapman has been a substantial presence for many of his clubs and organizations.Brad Robinson, science instructor and faculty advisor of Engineering Club, believed that Tyler has shown much dedication and true interest for engineering ever since the early days of the club’s existence. “I love working with Tyler and can't imagine a better leader for the Engineering Club. He is probably one of the most thoughtful, considerate, and responsible students I have worked with at this school,” Robinson said.“Tyler has always been a major force in the engineering club. He is among the most dedicated students in the club, almost never missing a meeting.  He has repeatedly proven himself to be resourceful about the projects we take on, and is very thoughtful in seeing them through. He has GREAT ideas and has the tenacity to bring them to completion,” Robinson added. “Tyler is extremely welcoming of new students and encourages everybody who shows up to get involved and to take part in a significant way.  He is a great teacher, showing new students how to use tools and he is not the kind of person who needs to take over and do things himself.”Senior Becca Nievar, who heads the health club H4 with Chapman, believed that Chapman’s genuine figure has always benefited the club. “Chappy is one of the most reliable guys I have ever met. As co-heads of H4, we plan and host events, and he has always been there to be a voice of reason. All in all I think the best word to describe him is genuine,” Nievar said. “He is a great leader. He is very project oriented and keeps everyone in track. All his peers in H4 look up to him, not only as a leader but as a role model.”Senior Tyler Weitzman, who heads Invention Club with Chapman, agreed and expressed his appreciation for Chapman’s skills as a level-headed leader, imaginative inventor, and visionary.  “When something does not go right, he knows how to make everyone pause and reconsider the original blueprint, and often times this helps the group discover a more efficient way of achieving better results,” Weitzman said. “He has a marvelous imagination that he uses both to come up with great invention ideas, and to build them creatively. He has no boundaries because he can quickly provide an explanation for how an invention would work often before anybody gets to question its feasibility.”Chapman said that he joined clubs because of his interest and curiosity in the topics, and because he sought to interact with peers who had similar interests.  He believed that more Exonians should seek out connections and pursue what they are curious for. “One of the most important things that I have learned here is that there is no sense in being scared to ask a question. A person learns the best when they are wrong and then corrected, and the best way to be corrected is to ask a question,” Chapman said.  “Also, I would say that the connections with people that I have met are the most important thing.  There are few other places that as a high school student a person is exposed to so many different ideas and  ways of thinking.  The new perspectives are invaluable.”On the field, Chapman has always been a kind figure for his teammates to look up to and a not-so-kind presence for his opponents to avoid.  “Chappy has a great work ethic on and off the field. A lot of the teammates look up to him as a leader on the squad for some time. He always tries to help out his teammates whenever possible,” Campbell, who plays on varsity Football with Chapman, said. “However, he isn’t a nice guy on Game Day. Chappy does his talking on the field to his opponents when it’s appropriate.”Former Head Coach Bill Glennon believed that Chapman has always been a role model and leader for the football team. “He just leads by example and is a quality young man with goodness and character,” Glennon said. “Chappy is a terrific young man and a true Exeter student/athlete and has had a terrific last two seasons of football, and I hope that he will be a major contributor again this year.”Chapman said that being on the sports teams made his time at Exeter much more enjoyable. “I think that by playing these team based sports I have become a better leader and person. I also believe that athletics in general teach you lessons that are very difficult to find otherwise in life,” he said.However, outside of the classroom and off the field, he is a great true friend to many as well. “Tyler is one of the few people you will meet at Exeter that is genuine 100 percent of the time. I believe that that alone is what sets him apart; I know that the only person Chappy can be is Chappy, which is hard to say about most people,” senior Savannah Gardner said. “He's always the friendliest face around the Harkness table, with the kind of personality and reassurance you need for good Harkness.”Chapman attributed his positive attitude to putting himself in other Exonians’ shoes and constantly reminding himself that a positive remark would lighten up others. “I maintain my positive attitude by remembering that everyone struggles, and that the only reason that I have progressed as a person is because others were kind to me,” Chapman said. “Thus, I try to be as nice and accommodating to those I interact with as much as a possibly can.  I try to keep in mind that a ‘hello’ or smile will brighten someone’s day, like those from others have brightened mine.”Chapman had advice to give to his fellow Exonians, especially the preps, lowers, and the uppers. “My advice is two part; first, don't be afraid to take time to have fun, go to clubs, plays, athletic events and to meet people, because those places are where your greatest memories of Exeter will be made,” Chapman said. “The second part is to remember that, while fun should be had, school must be put in first priority.  You’ll remember playing Monopoly at four in the morning instead of writing a paper. The key is to strike a balance between fun and work.”