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The 2024 Buck Weirus Spirit Award: Unveiling The 65 Aggies Who Define Texas A&M’s Core Values

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The Buck Weirus Spirit Award is one of the most prestigious and highly coveted student honors at Texas A&M University (TAMU), recognizing the students who are the living embodiment of the "Aggie Spirit." As of today, December 23, 2025, the latest recipients—the class of 2024—have been celebrated, showcasing the diverse and profound commitment of the newest generation of Aggies to their community and its core values.

This deep-dive article will explore the award’s namesake, Richard "Buck" Weirus, the rigorous criteria for selection, and spotlight some of the most recent 2024 winners who have made an undeniable impact across the Texas A&M community, from College Station to Galveston and Qatar. The award is a testament to high involvement, positive influence, and outstanding contributions to student life programs, marking the recipients as "the best of the best" in Aggieland.

Richard "Buck" Weirus: The Eternal Aggie Optimist

The spirit of the award is inextricably linked to the man whose name it bears: Richard "Buck" Weirus ’42. His life was a masterclass in dedication to Texas A&M, setting the standard for the spirit the award seeks to recognize.

  • Full Name: Richard “Buck” Weirus
  • Texas A&M Class: Class of 1942
  • Degree: Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering
  • Key Role at TAMU: Executive Director of The Association of Former Students
  • Tenure as Executive Director: 1961 to 1980
  • Defining Character: Known as the "eternal Aggie optimist and ambassador of the Aggie Spirit."
  • Award Establishment: The Buck Weirus Spirit Award was established in 1982 by The Association of Former Students to honor his legacy.

Weirus’s vision and unique leadership shaped the relationship between the university and its former students for decades. His unwavering support for student life programs is the foundational pillar upon which the award's criteria are built, ensuring his influence continues to inspire students today.

The Six Aggie Core Values: The Blueprint for a Buck Weirus Recipient

The Buck Weirus Spirit Award is not merely a recognition of high grades or leadership titles; it is a celebration of students who deeply internalize and practice the six official Aggie Core Values. These values serve as the ethical and moral compass for the entire Texas A&M community, and the 65 annual recipients exemplify them in their daily actions.

Excellence: The Commitment to Greatness

Recipients of the award demonstrate an unwavering desire and commitment to greatness in all their endeavors. This goes beyond academic achievement, encompassing a drive to elevate the quality of their organizations and the overall campus environment.

Integrity: Doing the Right Thing

The Aggie Spirit demands integrity—the act of doing the right things regardless of personal circumstances or the difficulty of the situation. Buck Weirus winners are known for their ethical conduct and moral fortitude, serving as trustworthy role models for their peers.

Selfless Service: The Heart of the Aggie Community

Perhaps the most defining trait of a recipient, Selfless Service is the commitment to serving the greater good without expectation of personal gain. This is seen in everything from volunteer work to mentoring younger students and contributing to various campus organizations.

Respect, Loyalty, and Leadership

The remaining core values—Respect, Loyalty, and Leadership—complete the profile of a Buck Weirus winner. They show deep respect for others and the institution’s traditions, demonstrate unwavering loyalty to Texas A&M, and take on leadership roles that positively impact the student body and campus organizations like the Corps of Cadets, Howdy Week, and the Student Government Association.

Spotlight on the 2024 Buck Weirus Spirit Award Winners

The 2024 Buck Weirus Spirit Award recognized 65 outstanding students who have created positive experiences and demonstrated high involvement across the Aggie community. While the full list of all 65 is extensive, several recipients have been highlighted for their exceptional contributions, showcasing the award's reach across various Texas A&M campuses and student programs.

Wade Taylor IV: The Student-Athlete Ambassador

A prominent 2024 recipient is Wade Taylor IV, a student-athlete who received the coveted award for his outstanding contributions to student life programs. His recognition underscores that the Aggie Spirit is alive and well in the athletics department, where he demonstrated high involvement and created positive experiences for the community, earning him a nod for the SEC Community Service Team as well.

Aggie Leaders from Galveston and Qatar

The award’s influence extends beyond the main campus in College Station, recognizing students from Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG) and Texas A&M at Qatar. This demonstrates the university’s commitment to a unified Aggie Spirit across all its locations.

Notable 2024 recipients from these campuses include:

  • Melton “Bubba” Nelson ’25: Recognized for his comprehensive involvement at TAMUG.
  • Tre Higgenbotham ’24 and Jett: Honored for their roles as Yell Leaders, a hallmark of Aggie Spirit and tradition.
  • Tasnim Ahsan and Abdulla Babikr: Two of the distinguished students from the Texas A&M at Qatar campus who were celebrated for embodying the Aggie Core Values on an international stage.

These individuals, along with the other 60+ winners, represent a wide range of organizations, including Greek Life, academic societies, recreational sports, and New Student & Family Programs, proving that the Aggie Spirit permeates every corner of the university.

The Lasting Significance of the Buck Weirus Award

The Buck Weirus Spirit Award is more than just a framed certificate and a new watch—the traditional gifts bestowed upon the recipients. It is a powerful institutional endorsement that recognizes the profound impact students have on the culture of Texas A&M.

For the recipients, the award is a capstone to their collegiate career, a public acknowledgment that they have successfully translated the university’s abstract Core Values into tangible, positive change. It is a badge of honor that distinguishes them as true ambassadors of the Aggie tradition, carrying the spirit of Selfless Service into their post-graduation lives. The award serves as a perpetual reminder to the entire student body of what it means to be a dedicated, involved, and spirited Aggie, ensuring that the legacy of Richard "Buck" Weirus '42 continues to shape future generations.

The continued celebration of these student leaders, particularly the recent 2024 class, ensures the vitality and longevity of the Aggie Spirit, making the Buck Weirus Spirit Award one of the most meaningful honors a Texas A&M student can achieve.

The 2024 Buck Weirus Spirit Award: Unveiling the 65 Aggies Who Define Texas A&M’s Core Values
buck weirus spirit award
buck weirus spirit award

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