[5] As Head Yell Leader Mike Marlowe explained, "It is the most we have and the least we can give. However, since 2002, a student-sponsored coalition has constructed an annual unsanctioned, off-campus "Student Bonfire" in the spirit of its predecessor. [8] Although the tradition stated that if Bonfire burned through midnight then A&M would win the following day's football game, the introduction of the wedding cake design drastically reduced the time it took for Bonfire to fall, sometimes burning for only 30 or 45 minutes. By 1999, the only written documentation on the building of Bonfire was the rough schematic printed on the back of the official Bonfire T-shirt worn by participants from the freshman honors dormitory, Lechner. If approved, schedule an appointment to order in person or submit your order online by 5 p.m. CT on June 23, 2021. [13], The 1980s also saw increased alcohol consumption during the Bonfire ceremony. Account Benefits. ", a derogatory nickname for the University of Texas.[3]. Alcohol is prohibiited, and hazing has been banned. "At that point, we scrapped the plan. College Station, TX 77840. [8] Immediately after the collapse, Emergency Medical Technicians and trained First Responders of the Texas A&M Emergency Care Team (TAMECT), a student-run, volunteer service, who staffed each stage of construction, administered first aid. Six years later, the school yearbook published a photograph of the event. The ban was partially rescinded in 1979, when women were again allowed to participate in Cut, and completely rescinded in 1981. "[3][2] [8] Of the 58 students and former students working on the stack, 12 were killed and 27 were injured. The Replant organization became independent of Bonfire in 1994 when it gained its own Student Government Committee. [40] Despite a lack of official advertisement, over one thousand spectators attended. Each team had assigned shifts, although individuals were not limited to working only the assigned shifts. [3] In 1987, two female photographers from the school yearbook alleged that male workers shouted obscenities and threw dirt on them as they tried to take pictures of the raising of the center pole. The Board changed or eliminated many of the minor traditions that had proliferated during Aggie Bonfire, primarily for safety reasons. When Aggies see a need, their energy and their selflessness draw others into the cause, and good things happen. [8] Over 8000 logs were used each year in the late 1990s, taking about 5000 students a combined 125,000 man-hours to construct. Aggie Express Commons. Twenty-seven stones complete the ring, representing the 27 students injured in the collapse. [41] The 2013 Student Bonfire attracted 12,000 people, despite being postponed until January due to flooding. All payments will be due on the 15th day of the month. [30], In its later years, students building Bonfire used logs donated by local landowners who wanted their land cleared for construction or farming. The manual labor ensured that participants were invested in each log that went into the Bonfire. The best in College Station's Live Music and social scene, The Canteen has an energy all of its own. Products include sugared almonds, linen, lace, ribbons, flowers, gift tags, guest books, confetti, cake boxes, cups, buntings and garlands. [19] To find their own place in the Bonfire hierarchy, female students founded the all-female Bonfire Reload Crew to provide refreshments to those working at Cut and Stack. The requirements were established by the Official Senior Ring Committee of 1933. History Walk – Consists of 89 stones representing the 89 previous years of Bonfire. To maintain the traditional wedding-cake design, the logs are cut to different heights, with the tallest set reaching 32 feet (9.8 m) high. In 1969, the stack of logs set the world record for the height of a bonfire at 109 ft 10 in (33 m) tall. $14.95. Dating back over one hundred years, it is a tradition that is deep in symbolism. Many former students participated with teams they belonged to as students. [31] Crowds ranged from 30,000 to 70,000 people, depending on the weather and the strength of the Aggie football team. [8], During Cut, all logs were felled by hand, with students working in teams to chop down each tree with their axes. [11] The stack was scheduled to burn only days after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Every symbol represents values every Aggie should hold: Excellence, Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Respect, and Selfless Service. TAMU MINIMESTERS that end on or before June 4, 2021, will count towards your Aggie Ring requirements. Finger size can fluctuate due to body temperature, time of day, what we eat, exercising, working with our hands and many other factors. [4] The first on-campus Aggie Bonfire, a heap of trash and debris, was burned in 1909 to generate enthusiasm for a variety of sporting events. Ring Day; Former Student; Future Aggie; Sports & Gameday . For 90 years, Texas A&M studentsâknown as Aggiesâbuilt a bonfire on campus each autumn, known to the Aggie community simply as "Bonfire". [41] Now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Student Bonfire has official bylaws and a Board of Directors comprising former students. By tradition, grodes were either not washed until after Bonfire burned or not washed at all. The Aggie Ring is the most visible symbol of the Aggie Network that connects Aggies around the world. Aggie Ring Day is one of the most anticipated milestones in an Aggie student's career.
Football . [9] In 1956, there was an unsuccessful attempt to plant explosives at the Bonfire site,[8] and, in the late 1970s, a College Station police officer was fired after trying to ignite the bonfire several days ahead of schedule. [13], The following year, the unofficial event was rebranded Student Bonfire. [20], Injuries plagued the construction process. Few women participated in the early years, as female volunteers were subject to verbal abuse from their male counterparts. 3. [28] After the 1994 Bonfire was burned, two tons of lime were spread on the Polo Fields to stabilize the ground. After the center pole was erected, logs were placed vertically around it in a multi-tiered wedding cake design composed of thousands of logs. Tamara // March 14, 2020 at 2:44 pm // Reply. The first four of the six stacks were built with the efforts of all safety-trained participants. ... Vote. However, because the Corps had no authority over the "non-regs", or civilian students, a separate Bonfire leadership structure was instituted. A good fit means your ring will feel comfortable most of the time. If your TAMU minimester hours do not post by June 14, please contact the Aggie Ring Program at 979-845-1050 for direction. [13] In a departure from tradition, every log in the stack touches the ground. Please wait until your hours have posted in Howdy before checking your eligibility. It should slide over the knuckle easily, but have some resistance coming off. Aggie Express Hullabaloo. Cut bareroot trees back by one-half at planting (Figure 2). Every ring has a karat stamp in it, like 14k (which is the gold content like the ring in the photo), 18k or even Plat (for platinum). AggieNetwork.com
[3] In 1990, student Scott Hantman asked the Bonfire leadership to help him address the problem. Tradition Plaza – Marks the entrance to the memorial and reflects on Aggie traditions. Follow the steps to customize your Aggie Ring to check your eligibility. Alumni Center, is celebrated three times a year for currently enrolled students: April, September and November.
[13] Attendance for Student Bonfire ranges from 8,000–15,000 people and the event is held in Brazos County or one of the surrounding counties. Anyone have any ideas how ring day is going to go down? [5] For unrelated reasons, that same year the Bonfire was moved from Simpson Drill Field in front of the Memorial Student Center to Duncan Field, near the dorms of the Corps of Cadets (whose leaders oversaw construction). [33] In addition to the mutual aid received from the College Station and Bryan, Texas EMS, Fire, and Police Departments, members of Texas Task Force 1, the state's elite emergency response team, arrived to assist the rescue efforts. The Texas A&M Zoom background repository is a collection of University-owned images provided for Texas A&M students, faculty, staff and former students to use to show their Aggie ⦠This more isolated site, with a larger area for people to gather, made it a safer location. Emergency medical technicians were also required to be on site at all times and no more than 70 students at a time were allowed on the stack. "[11], In the following years the structure became more elaborate, and in 1967 the flames could be seen 25 miles (40 km) away. One of the greatest moments during an Aggieâs time at Texas A&M is the day he or she receives an Aggie Ring. Alumni Center three times yearly. The Association of Former Students Aggie Ring Program has the honor and responsibility of protecting the integrity of the Aggie Ring. On your appointment day, visit the Aggie Ring Program to select your size and pay for your Aggie Ring. The lowered height eliminates the need for a spliced center pole. The burs, excluding the spines, are 4.1-6.3 mm wide and 5.3-8.0 mm long to the tip of the spikelets. The event symbolized Aggie students' "burning desire to beat the hell outta t.u. Three Aggies have taken their love for cooking to the next level by promoting their treats and meals on social media. [21], Although students protested Bonfire's environmental impact since 1970, no changes were made for decades. Whether you are enjoying handcrafted cocktails with your friends or grabbing a bite to eat, we offer relaxing areas and community gathering places, perfect for socializing, social distancing, watching Aggie Football, celebrating graduation or Ring Day. This design, based on the recommendation of the 2002 university task force and approved by a structural engineer, results in a Bonfire less than half the size of those from the 1960s. [8] By 1984, the logs were sloping only 14 degrees. As the most visible sign of the Aggie Network, the Aggie Ring is a unique representation of achievement, as it can only be ordered when an Aggie completes specific academic requirements. Thoroughly water trees with at least 5 gallons of water immediately after planting. In the Aggie Ring tab, click on Order Your Aggie Ring! The memorial is composed of three design elements:[36], The memorial design has been recognized by several organizations as an outstanding architectural design and masonry accomplishment. [3] Construction began in late October with "Cut", obtaining wood by cutting down trees with axes, which took several weekends. This event, hosted at the Clayton W. Williams Jr. [8], This event was popular among current and former students and people traveled from all over the state and the nation to observe the burning of Bonfire. 5. Trees not cut ⦠[7] The spiral arrangement of the logs was designed to make Bonfire collapse into itself in a twisting motion, thus protecting spectators. The Aggie Bonfire was a long-standing annual tradition at Texas A&M University as part of the college rivalry with the University of Texas at Austin. Near the end of stack, known as "Push", students worked around the clock in rotating shifts. Nine other students were injured. The accident led Texas A&M to declare a hiatus on an official Bonfire. Click here for eligibility, interest rate, processing, cancellation and repayment information. In 1981, student Wiley Keith Jopling died after being run over by a tractor at the Cut site. [8] Once the stack was finished, a burnt-orange outhouse with "t.u frat house" painted on the front was placed on top of the stack. "[10], In 1965, membership in the Corps of Cadets became voluntary for students at Texas A&M. Customize Your Aggie Ring. [7], Despite the complexity of the design, there were no formal written instructions or architectural blueprints for the construction of Bonfire. In 1988, police issued 140 Minor in Possession (of alcohol) citations and arrested six people. [3] The logs were placed at an angle between 23 and 30 degrees, giving it "a tremendous vertical and horizontal resistance". IF YOU ARE EXPECTING ADDITIONAL HOURS (transfer, CLEP, study abroad, grade change or mini-mester hours from another institution): All hours must be posted on your TAMU records by June 22, 2021, to be considered towards your Aggie Ring requirements. [27] This page was last edited on 1 March 2021, at 11:03. [5], During the 1940s, the school paper described Bonfire as "the greatest event of the football season". Twelve portals are placed around the ring, oriented toward each student's hometown. [13], To ensure safety during the Stack period, the organizers maintained a perimeter around the working area, and allowed only safety-trained students through. [1][2] For 90 years, Texas A&M students—known as Aggies—built a bonfire on campus each autumn, known to the Aggie community simply as "Bonfire". [13] For added support, four 24-foot (7.3 m) poles are spaced evenly around the stack and then bolted to the 45-foot (14 m) center pole, each with a steel pipe. In 1999, the Bonfire collapsed during construction, killing 11 students and one former student and injuring 27 others. This Ring Loss Protection Plan excludes diamonds, precious stones, Military Academy rings, Championship rings and Texas A&M University rings (Aggie rings). This fire consisted of three piles of wood, with the center stack being 35 feet (11 m) high. Hotel rooms within 65 miles (105 km) of College Station were booked weeks or months in advance of the date Bonfire burned. The Association of Former Students Aggie Ring Program has the honor and responsibility of protecting the integrity of the Aggie Ring. If you can take the ring off without any effort, it is likely too loose. [7] This allowed Bonfire to grow from 25 feet (8 m) tall to over 50 feet (20 m) tall. 505 George Bush Drive
Before, Corps leaders directed construction of Bonfire. The Aggie Ring is the most visible symbol of the Aggie Network that connects Aggies around the world. The bylaws specify the design that must be used each year, and no changes have been permitted since the first burn in 2003. The new leaders were designated with colored hard hats, or pots, with the overall leaders known as redpots. Four steel plates were bolted to the two poles, and a 3⁄8 inch (9.5 mm) cable wrapped around the joint and secured to the pole with steel staples. [6] As an added precaution, nearby campus buildings were equipped with rooftop sprinkler systems. The student and several companions were riding in the bed of a pickup truck when the driver lost control and the truck rolled. Those who have earned the right to wear the Aggie Ring have cleared some of the toughest requirements in the country for a class ring, thus making it one of the most treasured items an Aggie possesses. Once the trees had fallen, brownpots, the "executive lumberjacks", used chainsaws to cut limbs and prepare the logs. They oversee the eligibility, order and delivery for more than 15,000 students each year. © 2021 The Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University, All Rights Reserved, 505 George Bush Drive
Please contact Customer Service at 1-800-BALFOUR (800-225-3687) for current replacement fees. [18], Although women were allowed to serve coffee and provide first aid in the late 1960s, in 1974 they were officially banned from both Cut and Stack. "He was actually in the process of building that plane when they had the tragedy at bonfire", Mel Stekoll said. Their structure used a design similar to a teepee, where all the logs rested against each other in a conical shape. The bonfire was traditionally lit around Thanksgiving in conjunction with festivities surrounding the annual football game. Instead, a single utility pole, sunk 15 feet (4.6 m) into the ground, serves as the center pole. They oversee the eligibility, order and delivery for more than 15,000 students each year. [5][18] Hazing, including beatings with ax handles, was common. [39], To further honor the victims, in 2000, the Aggie Replant Committee planted twelve live oak trees at the Polo Grounds. Please wait until your hours have posted in Howdy before checking your eligibility. How to Order Your Aggie Ring for the Septemeber 2021 Ring Day: 1. Out of respect, the students dismantled the stack. Known as the "Unity Project", it became the first unofficial Bonfire since the 1930s. [8], During this period, University of Texas students attempted several stunts, trying to light the stack early, but to no avail. The Aggie Ring cannot be purchased unless specific academic requirements are met, and many students receive their Rings on Aggie Ring Day, which is held at the Clayton W. Williams, Jr. These poles are known as Windle-sticks, after Levi Windle, a staunch supporter of Student Bonfire who died in an unrelated accident in 2003.[41][42][43]. â In one of the most competitive meets in the country, the Texas A&M track & field programs recorded seven top five finishes, including two event titles on the first day of action at the Tyson Invitational on Friday at the Randal Tyson Track Center. 4. Construction began in October 2003 and was completed by November 2004. [6] In 1935, a farmer reported that students carried off his entire barn as fuel for Bonfire. Are they going to cancel it and just mail the rings or what? The spines are of two kinds: 1) flattened spines that are spread over the body of the bur and 2) fine slender bristle-like spines that are situated in a ring at the base of the bur. [35] On November 18, 2004, five years following the incident, the Bonfire Memorial was officially dedicated. [6] Subsequent Aggies adopted the new idea, and the teepee design became standard for Bonfires for the next twenty-five years. To further fortify the structure, aircraft-grade steel cable is wrapped around each tier. TAMECT alerted the University Police and University EMS (also a student-run service), who dispatched all remaining university medics, and requested mutual aid from the surrounding agencies. Creekside Market. Sometimes it will feel tighter than usual, while other times it may feel loose. By: Tyler Pounds, Athletics Communications Story Links. Login or create an AggieNetwork.com account beginning May 18, 2021. Fall/Spring loans are due about 90 days after the loan is applied to your student billing account. IF YOU ARE EXPECTING ADDITIONAL HOURS (transfer, CLEP, study abroad, grade change or mini-mester hours from another institution): Social distancing practices will be required in the Alumni Center. Upon arrival, you will be asked to scan a QR code on your phone. Four perimeter poles were placed 150 feet (46 m) away and ropes were stretched between the perimeter poles to center poles and tension placed on them to hold the center pole together. [5] The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band began building the outhouse, ending the tradition of stealing Bonfire's components. For more information on remote Law Library services, please click here.More information regarding Texas A&M University's guidance on COVID-19 is ⦠In 1957, the structure collapsed two days before Bonfire was to be held, but students worked around-the-clock to rebuild it, and the bonfire burned as scheduled. ... aggie // July 6, ... Have a wonderful day. Students and alumni flocked to the Polo Fields, working around the clock, to rebuild the Bonfire in time for the game. [26] After heavy rains in 1994, the partially completed Bonfire began to slowly lean to the side as the soil underneath shifted. The Aggie Bonfire was a long-standing annual tradition at Texas A&M University as part of the college rivalry with the University of Texas at Austin. The Bonfire design changed in 1942. Club Green provide products for weddings, baby showers, graduation and hen parties and a variety of celebrations. [5][12] Out of concern for the safety of participants and the community, the university limited the size to 55 feet (17 m) tall and 45 feet (14 m) in diameter. The structure was built around a fortified center pole, made from two telephone poles spliced together by cutting matching notches, approximately 10 feet (3 m) long, and with 5 US gallons (19 L) of glue. Posted by 1 hour ago. [24], After being held at the Duncan Intramural Fields on the south side of A&M's campus for twenty-seven years, in 1992, Bonfire was relocated to the Polo Fields on the northeast corner of campus. The following year, for the first time, the school provided axes, saws, and trucks for the students and pointed them toward a grove of dead trees on the edge of town. Sneeze guards have been installed, and Ring stations, sizers and finishes will be sanitized between customers. [8] In early November, crews began "Stack", a three-week period in which the logs were wired together and Bonfire took shape. Market @ Polo Garage. [14][15][16], Although between two and five thousand students participated in the construction of Bonfire each year, most worked only part-time, and many worked only one or two shifts. ... As part of the Aggie ACHIEVE program you may be eligible to receive the following types of financial aid. Quick View Choose Options. While it is uncertain at this time, social distancing practices may be in effect for Aggie Ring Delivery. [3], Freshmen were expected to build the early Bonfires to help prove their worth. [3][8] After Cut, students brought the logs to campus during "Load", a process by which the logs were loaded by hand onto flatbed trucks and brought to campus. [5][20] Nine tractors, two bulldozers, and two forklifts dismantled the stack on October 26, 1994, which, at 70% completed, stood 40 feet (12 m) tall and 45 feet (14 m) wide. To prevent future incidents, the university made Bonfire a school-sanctioned event. The fit should feel snug without your finger bulging. Early bonfires were little more than piles of trash, but the event gradually became more organized and eventually grew to an immense size, setting the world record in 1969. The redpots responded that women were always welcome to participate as long as they did their share of the work, and that the photographers were standing dangerously close to the stack. [38] The memorial also was recognized as a winner of the 2005 MCAA International Excellence in Masonry Awards. [22] As many as 150 police officers were on duty during the Bonfire burning from the Texas A&M and College Station police departments and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Dining, Drinks & Live Music The Canteen. [13] There was a virtual bonfire in 2020. [3] The 1947 Corps handbook stated that "bonfire symbolizes two things: a burning desire to beat the team from the University of Texas, and the undying flame of love that every loyal Aggie carries in his heart for the school"; this was often shortened to "the burning desire to beat the hell out of t.u. As in the pre-1999 versions of Bonfire, each log is tied to the log next to it with baling wire. It would have been the next year that we planned to try it. Face coverings must be worn by all individuals. Maroon Out ; Jimbo; Gameday (BTHO) Bowl Game Apparel ; Baseball & Softball; Basketball; Soccer; Golf; Volleyball; Track and Field ... Texas A&M Aggies Kelly Green And White St. Patrick's Day Trucker Cap. [23], At approximately 2:42 a.m. on November 18, 1999,[32] the 59-foot high stack, consisting of about 5000 logs, collapsed during construction. [6] After being doused in 700 lb (318 kg) of jet fuel, applied by staff members at A&M's Fire Training School, the Yell Leaders, Drum Majors, and Redpots then lit the stack with torches the night before the annual football game against the University of Texas when at home and two nights before the game when it was played in Austin. The day before Bonfire was scheduled to burn, junior redpots would build the fifth stack, and then senior redpots would build the sixth. A gap in the timeline signifies the 1963 Bonfire, which did not burn due to the John F. Kennedy assassination. [23], In 1989, the Campus Ministry Association, representing 17 religious denominations, unanimously approved a resolution asking the university to change Bonfire because of concerns about safety, participant academic performance, humanitarian considerations, and the environment. The Aggie Ring is traditionally worn on the right hand ring finger. [5] In 1999, a Longhorn fan hired someone to build a six-foot model airplane designed to carry a bomb into the wood stack to ignite it prematurely. [3], The first Bonfire built with both Corps and non-reg participation was in 1963. The three previous Bonfire-related deaths are also memorialized on this time line. [8] Students working on Bonfire wore "grodes"—old T-shirts, jeans, and boots. Spirit Ring – The ring surrounds the site of the collapse and represents the spirit that brought the students together. A 3- to 5-foot diameter watering ring of soil around the tree will help hold the water as it soaks into the ground. A decade later, the focus of the event narrowed to the annual rivalry game between Texas A&M and the University of Texas, held near Thanksgiving Day. Shortly afterwards, the Faculty Senate's Committee of the Whole approved a resolution asking for a panel to explore alternatives to Bonfire. [13], While the Bonfires of the 1960s were constructed in five to ten days, working primarily in daylight, by the late 1970s, changes in the school led to a more elaborate and lengthy construction schedule. Cranes, donated by local construction companies, assisted in getting logs onto the upper tiers, and volunteers from those companies were on-hand at all times to offer advice. Silver/white gold ring, black and clear stones, engraved 18k WGF. Despite the new height restrictions, in the 1970s, the Guinness Book of Records listed Aggie Bonfire as the largest Bonfire in the world. You may review the eligibility requirements for each fund at the provided links. The students of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, known as Aggies, burned their first bonfire on November 18, 1907, to congratulate the football team on a recent win. [29], In 1996 a student, Greg White, died in a car accident on his way home from Cut. [34], A memorial was constructed on the university polo fields, the site of the accident. Universal Studios, filming the movie We've Never Been Licked on the Texas A&M Campus, built a bonfire as a prop for the movie. Deborah Acquah started things off for Texas ⦠[22] Fractures and amputations were rare, but many students suffered cuts, scrapes, or exposure to poison ivy. Every symbol represents values every Aggie should hold: Excellence, Integrity, Leadership, Loyalty, Respect and Selfless Service. Students spotted the officer before he could succeed and chased him across campus. If your TAMU minimester hours do not post by June 14, please contact the Aggie Ring Program at 979-845-1050 for direction. [3] Student workers were organized by dormitories or Corps units, with a separate off-campus student team. In one of these instances, the plane ran low on fuel, and was forced to land at Easterwood Airport in College Station—the wooden portions of the plane found themselves part of Bonfire that year. [3] For almost two decades, the students constructed Bonfire from debris and wood acquired through various, sometimes illicit, means, including appropriating lumber intended for a dormitory in 1912. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}30°37′22″N 96°20′07″W / 30.6227°N 96.3352°W / 30.6227; -96.3352 (Bonfire Memorial) - Bonfire Memorial, the Bonfire collapsed during construction, Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, "Aggies might appreciate coach's gigging", "Aggie Bonfire holds distinction as Texas symbol", "Thousands gather to witness evolving Aggie tradition", "Aggie bonfire creating heat prematurely", "Smoldering debate: Two A&M groups seeking way to cool off Aggie bonfire", "A&M will go full tilt again at wood tower", "Aggies light fire after frenzy of rebuilding", "Bonfire design evolution fueled by informal techniques", "Texas A&M student killed, 9 others injured in traffic accident on Texas 6", "Unlit bonfire collapse at Texas A&M kills at least 4, injures 25", "Aggie medics recount stories of sorrowful day", "AIA San Antonio Announces 2005 Design Awards", "Off-campus Texas A&M bonfire brings out thousands", "A year after fiasco, student bonfire set to burn", The Special Commission on the 1999 Bonfire, The Special Commission on the 1999 Bonfire Final Report, Student Bonfire – Rebuilding the Tradition, Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aggie_Bonfire&oldid=1009600272, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Trees cut down, logs loaded by hand onto trucks and unloaded on campus, Logs wired into place against the center pole, 1 or 2 nights before the football game versus. [3] The event suffered its first fatality in 1955, when a student was struck by a swerving car. For quick processing, complete a 'Request for Upfront Processing Form' and let their staff know that it is for the Aggie Ring deadline. The group solicited volunteers, and in the spring of 1991, they planted 400 trees. The American Institute of Architects, San Antonio Chapter, recognized the memorial as a winner of the 2005 AIA San Antonio Design Award. The Bonfire leadership structure has remained in place, although in 2014 only 10 of the 26 dorms were represented by Bonfire crews. [17], In 1983, the city of College Station began manufacturing Austin city limits signs for students to place at the summit of the Bonfire so that students would stop stealing signs from Austin.