A group of more than 100 Aggies caravanned to West, Texas, on Saturday to shovel debris, load trash bags and be a source of comfort to residents still experiencing the effects of devastation caused by the fertilizer plant explosion.

From a supply drive organized by Aggieland Outfitters to a profit share called “A Night Out in B-CS,” Aggies have sacrificed time and resources to show support for their fellow Texans.

Laura Terrell, senior community health major, participated in Saturday’s service project and said her volunteer group worked in the residential area closest to the plant’s explosion.

“We went from house to house and threw trash bags, insulation and drywall into these ginormous dumpsters,” Terrell said. “We went in one guy’s house and shoveled insulation out so he could make a walkway. His 84-year-old mom was there trying to help.”

In less than a week, a group of around 10 Aggies organized the trip, which included raising money, renting buses and recruiting volunteers.

In addition to providing manual labor, the Aggies’ 337 hours of community service will result in additional financial support for the city’s renovation.

Tyler Stewart, former president of the Memorial Student Center and senior biomedical science major, contributed to the trip’s planning and said the gathering of students on Saturday from every corner of campus would have restored faith in anyone who doubted the Aggie family.

“This was not an interest group, this was a group interested in helping out people who needed it,” Stewart said. “We had so many responses that we had to turn people away. I can’t name a single other university where you can make that happen.”

Concerning West’s greatest needs, Stewart said volunteers are in high demand to help clean up debris, but that moral support is needed just as much.

“I think the one thing that they need that no one talks about is support,” Stewart said. “One of the biggest things about us being there was just our presence. The volunteer coordinator told us, ‘You can’t imagine what this means to our residents, even if you didn’t do anything today. Because we know we’re not alone.’”

“A Night Out In B-CS” involved around 20 area businesses partnering to donate a percentage of profits toward relief efforts.

Addison Porter, senior accounting major and former president of One Army, helped plan the fundraiser and said he enjoyed watching different facets of campus coming together to support one cause.

“For me, after that accident happened in West I wanted to do something, but it’s so hard unless you have collective buy-in from a number of spots on campus,” Porter said. “So when I was approached [about starting the fundraiser], immediately I was on board and I would do anything to do the guys in One Army to help me out as well.”

Porter also had the chance to travel to West with the group of more than 100 Aggies on Saturday.

One of the first groups of Aggie volunteers to travel to West was organized by Aggieland Outfitters, which delivered two 53-foot trailers, two 35-foot trailers, two 24-foot Uhaul trucks, a 20-foot box truck and an RV full of supplies to West, as well as nearly $15,000 in cash donations within 24 hours of the explosion. The majority of supplies delivered were water bottles, clothes and first aid equipment.

Dallas Shipp, director of communications at Aggieland Outfitters, expressed his confidence in Aggieland to rally around West residents at such a difficult time.

“You never want something like that to happen,” Shipp said. “But when it does, I don’t know any other group of people that can mobilize and get organized as quickly as we did here. The day we did the [supply] drive at the mall, the first word that came to my mind was that this was unbelievable. But when you think about it, it’s not. It’s just Aggies doing what they do.”

Shipp took advantage of the text message program that Aggieland Outfitters uses for marketing to gather volunteers. He said that by noon the day after the explosion, about 1,400 people texted in with desire to volunteer. 

Thousands of students will receive diplomas Saturday and step into a new stage in their lives. A select number of others will march.

After graduation ceremonies, some members in the Corps of Cadets will formally become officers in their respective military branches.

During their second year in the Corps, cadets decide whether they will join the military following graduation. For the estimated 40 percent of cadets who choose military commissioning, their education follows a military focus. They apply for a competitive commission in one of the three military branches and commit to a certain number of years in the military.

Capt. Bryan French, who has more than nine years of military service and works with the A&M Army ROTC program, said he believes the ceremony Saturday is a big step for those cadets who have opted for commission.

“This is a culmination of all these cadets’ efforts over their four years here,” French said. “This is a giant step forward for them and is the start of their military career.”

At the commission ceremony, each of the three branches will take an officer oath. French said about 49 Cadets would become Army officers, which is more than in previous years, though he said the Corps would not have an exact count on the total number commissioning until the ceremony gets closer. Those in the Army and Air Force will become 2nd Lieutenants and those in the Navy or Marines will become Ensigns.

Frank Marquette, senior international studies major, will receive an Air Force commission and said he looks forward to a military career.

“I came into my freshman year with no desire to pursue a military career, but at the end of that year I changed my mind,” Marquette said. “There are plenty of reasons why I wanted to get a commission — job security after college, the training aspect. I also feel an obligation to serve my country, plus it will be an adventure.”

Aneesa Castaneda, senior construction science major, said she also wants to serve her country and honor her family.

“My dad is prior service and was in the Army Corps of Engineers,” Castaneda said. “Never once have I looked back, and to this day I look forward to making my dad proud. I will be the first female officer of my family to join the ranks. But most importantly I wanted to serve my country.”

Andrew Mann, senior psychology major, will commission with the Army and said he believes it is his duty to the country to serve in order to protect the freedoms citizens enjoy.

“I love my country, and I love the freedoms that I have enjoyed so far in my life,” Mann said. “I would gladly give my life to ensure that my fellow Americans can continue to enjoy those freedoms, and that future generations can continue to enjoy them. I know that’s kind of a cliché answer that a lot people give, but it’s something I have wanted to do since I was in elementary school.”

Jacob McIntosh, senior computer engineering major, said it’s his “turn to serve.”

“Someone has got to step up and I am proud to do it,” McIntosh said.

Apart from the military service academies, the Corps of Cadets consistently commissions more officers than any other institution in the U.S. Marquis Alexander, Corps commander and senior international studies major, said this is because of qualities that make A&M unique.

“As a tier-one research University, we can offer a rigorous academic environment, opportunities for excellent military development through the Corps of Cadets and ROTC programs, but also a vibrant social life which is a different experience from the service academies,” Alexander said. “Coupling that with the current media spotlight that A&M is experiencing, it’s a great destination spot for future military officers.”