Bright colored ribbons hang around doorknobs and on lockers at Hayfield High School.

Pink, yellow and orange ribbons also are tied around trees in town and on car antennas.

It's just one symbol of support from the Hayfield community to a local eighth grader who was hurt in an accident two weeks ago.

Nick Schultz is in a coma at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester after a March 12 accident while riding a four-wheeler. Two weeks later he is saying some words, responding to gestures and smiling. While he has made progress, he is still in a coma.

Hayfield High School and especially his classmates in the eighth grade have since come together to show their support for Nick and his family. They made him a gift, arranged prayer vigils and distributed ribbons to remind the community to wish Nick a speedy recovery.

"Mark, Ashley, his sister, and I are very grateful for the thoughts and prayers extended to Nick," said Jane Schultz, Nick's mother.

The day after the accident, his friends met to discuss what they could do to help him. The school counselor, Kathy Connelly, told them that hearing their voices might help him.

So his friends set up a recording time and almost all of the class of 98 eighth graders left him a message on a CD. The choir, which Nick is a part of, also recorded three songs that they had been practicing.

"We listen to it almost every day," Jane Schultz said of the CD, adding that Nick seems to respond to it.

On March 18, the students arranged a prayer vigil before school and held another one Monday. About 75 people came.

Nick plays basketball, golf and football for Hayfield. The varsity basketball team signed a basketball for him and his friend and golf teammate Dominic Dahlen brought him golf balls. Nick often holds the gifts in his hands, his parents said.

The friends learn of Nick's progress on a Web site sponsored by a non-profit organization called Caring Bridge. Each day Jane Schultz updates the site (www.caringbridge.org/mn/nickschultz) so that community members know of his progress.

"I'm glad to see he's getting better," Dahlen said. "It's hard to believe to so close a friend, something like that could happen."

The site also contains a guest book. Hundreds of messages from all over the world have been posted since the Web site was started March 17 and the site has received more than 2,700 hits.

"We're amazed at the outpouring of support and the prayers that the community has shown for Nicholas and us," Mark Schultz, his father, said.

An anonymous parent donated 1,300 ribbons for students to pass out. The students started distributing ribbons March 20 and were down to a handful Tuesday.

When Nick was admitted to St. Mary's he was in the intensive care unit, but has since been moved to the rehabilitation wing. Jane Schultz said he is "taking steps in the right direction."

Jane and Mark Schultz have taken time off from their jobs to be with Nick in Rochester. His sister, Ashley, a 10th-grader at Hayfield High, visits Nick everyday after school.

Nick's friends hope to see him back in school soon.

"He's getting better," said Justin Scherbring, a friend who helped to arrange the events for Nick. "Hopefully he'll make a full recovery."

"I know everyone misses him," said Amanda Stuart, another friend. "All his friends miss him. I miss him. I'm glad to hear he has been getting better."

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at :mailto:cari.quam@austindailyherald.com