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STUDENT ASSISTANCE SERVICES

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SILVER TAPS

2020-2021 Silver Taps

February 2, 2021
Jarrod Cooper Glenn – Electrical Engineering

Brandon Reed Williams – Wildlife & Fisheries Science  
November 3, 2020

Omari Za Reiq Loydrake – Industrial Distribution

Erin Noel Novak – Ecosystem Science and Management

October 6, 2020

Victoria Annette Walker – Management

September 1, 2020

Steven Devon Anderson – Communication

Aidan Alexander Berwick – Genetics

Asa Thomas Graham – Multidisciplinary Engineering Technology

Caitlyn Mychele Harman – Public Health

Erik Alexander Medina – Biomedical Sciences

Cody Allen Reinhard – Political Science

Prescilla Marie Sanchez – English

Elizabeth Anne Slovak – Special Education

Silver Taps will be held in-person and simulcast on Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 10:30 p.m. on KAMU-TV and on Texas A&M’s YouTube Channel. Links and directions to the simulcast can be found on Texas A&M’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, as well as Traditions Council's Facebook and Instagram accounts.

About Silver Taps

Silver Taps is one of the oldest and finest traditions of the Texas A&M student body. No other institution has ever devised such a simple yet eloquent tribute to one of its departed members. Silver Taps is an expression of the great heart of Texas A&M. This information is provided so that you may know more about this cherished and honored tradition.

Silver Taps is that final tribute paid to an Aggie who, at the time of their death, was enrolled in professional, graduate or undergraduate courses at Texas A&M. It began in 1898 when the first Silver Taps was held in honor of Lawrence Sullivan Ross. The ceremony was observed in front of Old Main until it burned in 1912, and then in front of Goodwin Hall until 1918 when it was moved to the present site, in front of the Academic Building.

Over time, new traditions have been added to Silver Taps. In the 1920’s, the flag was placed at half-staff the day of Silver Taps. The special music "Silver Taps," composed by Colonel Richard J. Dunn, was played by two buglers during the 1930’s. This haunting arrangement is not formally written; it is passed from bugler to bugler. The chimes, which play prior to Silver Taps, were rung from 1955 to 1973. They were resumed in 1975 after the renovation of the Memorial Student Center. Formerly, Silver Taps was observed as soon as possible after the death of an Aggie. Today it is held on the first Tuesday of each month from September to April, if necessary.

The ceremony begins on the day of Silver Taps when the flag in front of the Academic Building is placed at half-staff. Notices are posted at the Memorial Student Center, Evans Library, and at the base of the flagpole in front of the Academic Building. At 10:15 p.m., chimes from the Albritton Bell Tower begin to play. The ceremony begins at 10:30 p.m. as the Ross Volunteers Firing Squad marches in slow cadence to the statue of Lawrence Sullivan Ross. Three volleys are fired. "Silver Taps" is played by six buglers three times – to the North, West, and South. This concludes the ceremony, but not the feelings of respect and honor.

With respect, the ceremony of Silver Taps is dedicated to the deceased Aggie and is a solemn and serious event. Some important observances must be remembered:

  • The area in front of the Sul Ross statue and the Academic Building is reserved for the friends and family of the deceased.
  • Aggies do not stand or sit on the benches lining the walkway between the flagpole and the Sul Ross Statue.
  • The darkness and quiet, which cover the campus, emphasize the mood for Silver Taps. Aggies help to retain this tranquility by covering windows, keeping noise to a minimum, and walking to and from the ceremony without talking.
  • The name of the deceased Aggie is posted on the flagpole base during the day of Silver Taps.

If you have questions or would like more information about Silver Taps, please contact Student Assistance Services at 979.845.3113.

Previous Silver Taps Ceremony Honorees

2019-2020

Roberto (Beto) A. Acosta – General Engineering

Carlynn “Carly” Nicole Beatty – Animal Science

Andrew Evan Brightwell – Geographic Information Science & Technology

Lela Justeen Burney – Kinesiology

William “Zach” Zachary Elder – Petroleum Engineering

Nicholas Joseph King – Geophysics

Nathan Wesley Matos – History

Cameron Christopher McNeff – Computer Engineering

Jon Adrian Perrott – Ag Leadership, Education & Communication

Roel Israel Prado – Horticulture

Alisa Ross – Homeland Security Certificate, Bush School of Government and Public Services

Maegan Ellen Sanders – Management Information Systems

Wesley Donald Sanders – Business Honors

Jedidiah Tuedjo Talom – General Studies

Vladimir N. Yelkhimov – Chemistry

2018-2019

Ms. Emily Lynn Chaffin – Finance

Mr. Thomas “Tom” Pierce Followwill – Construction Science

Mr. William Montgomery “Monty” Gano – Agricultural Economics

Mr. Noah Joseph Gunhouse – Construction Science

Mr. Erik Kyle Hanson – General Studies

Mr. Grant Jacson Hernandez – Finance

Mr. Andrew Keith Kalinke – Political Science

Mr. Van Le – Petroleum Engineering

Mr. Joseph William Little – Blinn TEAM

Ms. Hannah Michalski – Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

Mr. Mehrzad Monzavi – Mathematics

Ms. Kristen Lane Moss – Health Promotion and Community Health Science

Mr. Adolfo Payan – Meteorology

Ms. Sophie Pearl Rosenberg – Mechanical Engineering

Mr. Alan Chuong Ton – Biomedical Sciences

Ms. Anna Dryden Wegener – Biomedical Sciences

Mr. Mark Christopher Wilson – Chemical Engineering

2017-2018

Mr. Ryan Daniel Aleksandrowicz – Mechanical Engineering

Ms. Candace Renee Benefiel – English

Mr. Nikhil Bhatia – Biological & Agricultural Engineering

Mr. Brian Edward Bullock – Ocean Engineering

Mr. Jacob Michael Cahoon – Veterinary Medicine

Mr. Marc Portell Elizondo – General Engineering

Ms. Sarah Elizabeth Flanagan – Chemical Engineering

Mr. Matthew Austin Gaikema – Applied Mathematical Sciences & Computer Science

Mr. John “Johnny” William Holden Jr. – Petroleum Engineering

Mr. Benjamin Langston Hopper – Molecular & Cell Biology

Ms. Megan Bernadette Howe – Health

Ms. Sapphire Marie Jones – Psychology

Ms. Caroline St. Clair Killian – Marketing

Mr. Amogh Shrikant Kulkarni – Industrial Distribution

Mr. Mahmoud Yakub Ma’Aruf – EPI & Environmental Health

Mr. Dustin Cole McEntire – Engineering

Mr. Kyle Alan Novikoff – General Engineering

Ms. Shalini Singh – Epidemiology & Biostatistics

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