Origins of BUILD
Ever since Texas A&M University opened in 1876, it has been a place of rich history and tradition. One tradition at A&M began as a new student organization in 2013. BUILD was founded by the 2012-2013 Deputy Corps Commander, Bryson A. Sutterfield. Sutterfield was also a Ross Volunteer, Maroon Coat, and participant in Student Bonfire. He grew up going to Bonfire on campus and wrote this about why he helped establish BUILD:
“After the tragic events of 1999, and with Bonfire no longer on campus, my generation of students has missed out on this long-standing tradition that represented the epitome of the Aggie experience to so many. The over 14 years of absence of Bonfire took its toll on what we love about Texas A&M… BUILD is what university student leaders established as our generation’s unifying collaborative project, built in reverence of the tradition of Aggie Bonfire and the 12 students whose lives were lost in 1999. BUILD is about serving Texas A&M, our community, our state, our nation, and even the world. It is about taking the passion, the work ethic, the ingenuity, and the selflessness of Aggies and creating something that will permanently impact lives. BUILD is what will bring us together as an Aggie Family and produce a tangible product of ‘the Spirit that can ne’er be told.’"
BUILD 2013 Leadership
Bryson Sutterfield '13 - Founder
Andrew Abbott '14 CEO
Scott Lovett '13 COO
Drew Alders '13
Collin Madison '13
Brian Musselwhite '13
Eric Gil '14
Reid Joseph '14
Crystal Perez '14
Austen Jacobs '14
Tyler Patton '14
Carter Ray '14
Dr. Gordon Carstens - Faculty Advisor
BUILD 2013 Promotional Video
Aggie Bonfire was a long-standing tradition at Texas A&M University as part of the college rivalry with the University of Texas at Austin. For 90 years, Texas A&M students—known as Aggies—built and burned a bonfire on campus each autumn. Known to the Aggie community simply as "Bonfire", it was traditionally lit around Thanksgiving in conjunction with festivities surrounding the annual college football game against the University of Texas. Over the years the bonfire grew to an immense size, setting the world record in 1969. On November 18, 1999 at 2:42 am, Bonfire collapsed during construction, killing twelve people - eleven students and one former student - and injuring twenty-seven others.
In 2014, BUILD embarked on a three-year project to construct and dedicate 12 Texas Aggie Medical Clinics (TAMC's) in honor of the fallen Aggies at '99 Bonfire. In 2016, BUILD successfully completed and dedicated all 12 containers.
2014:
Antigua, Guatemala - Christopher David Breen '96
Tecpan, Guatemala - Jeremy Richard Frampton '99
Thomazeau, Haiti - Miranda Denise Adams '02
Yamaranguila, Honduras - Nathan Scott West '02
2015:
Soran, Iraq - Christopher Lee Heard '03
Beaudachita, Haiti - Lucas John Kimmel '03
Dolores, Honduras - Jamie Lynn Hand '03
San Jose, Costa Rica - Timothy Doran Kerlee '03
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2016:
Santa Cruz, Bolivia - Bryan A. McClain '02
Kratie Province, Cambodia - Chad A. Powell '03
Santo Domingo, D.R. - Jerry Don Self '01
Jordan- Michael Stephen Ebanks '03