Ivy Tech Indy student Tyree Sisk helps bring man to safety after horrific fall into downtown Indianapolis street

Tyree Sisk, ‘25, was waiting for the bus at the Julia Carson Transit Center on his way to the Indianapolis campus of Ivy Tech Community College when he witnessed a man stumble as he was trying to cross the street and tumbled in a devastating fall into oncoming traffic.

“He hit his head and started bleeding. He could barely stand, and his nose was busted,” Sisk said, describing the stranger’s terrible fall. 

Sisk instantly ran to help him and, unfortunately, was the only person to come to the stranger’s aid. That was, until Allison Barber, president and COO of the Indiana Fever, noticed what was happening. 

“Ms. Allison was in her car, driving by, when she saw the man, and she pulled over, got out of her car, and asked me if I needed help. I was like, 'Yes, ma'am, if you would like to,' because nobody else around us was helping. I was the only person around that went to help him until Ms. Allison pulled over."

Barber helped Sisk get the man to the curb. Then, they approached the IndyGo staff to call paramedics to the scene. 

Before Sisk rushed off to the next bus so he could get to campus on time, Barber asked for his name. 

“And she was like, 'Oh, you go to Ivy Tech?' And I was like, 'Yes, ma'am,' – because I was sporting my Ivy Tech gear. She told me she would send a nice note to the school. I didn't know who Ms. Allison was at the time, and I didn't really expect anything of it,” Sisk said. 

Well, a lot came of it, and Barber stuck to her word and then some.

She contacted Dr. Sue Ellspermann, president of Ivy Tech Community College, to send a special note of thanks to Sisk, which also included tickets to an Indiana Pacers game. 

Although the Pacers lost by just two points, Sisk says “the game was fantastic.”

"It was my first-ever NBA game. And I got to take my nephew, niece, and a friend. It was also their first NBA game too. So this was a lifetime experience,” Sisk said of the gifted tickets and what they meant to him. 

Sisk was invited into the locker room, where he met the team and coaching staff. He was also given an autographed jersey from Myles Turner. 

“I wasn't seeking any reward,” Sisk said. “I was just doing the right thing. I think that's what everybody should do with a situation like that."

Sisk is a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) technology student excited to fill the gap in HVAC needs. As we mentioned in the latest edition of Ivy Indy, employment of HVAC and refrigeration technicians has been projected to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032 – the fastest growth average of all occupations. 

Sisk, a member of Brother2Brother, says his experience of Ivy Tech Indianapolis so far has been great. 

“I love the diversity that they have at Ivy Tech Indianapolis,” Sisk said. It's also great because the staff here will work with you and help you. The instructors learn how to teach you instead of other situations where you might be having learning difficulties, and you may not understand something or comprehend. So, the staff here does their part by ensuring you fully comprehend and understand everything you are learning.”

Sisk looks forward to continuing his education after graduating from Ivy Tech next year and is considering returning to Ivy Tech to obtain an associate degree in psychology. But he’s taking it one step at a time. 

“Right now, my focus is graduating and walking across that stage. Accomplishing something good.”