AUSTIN (KXAN) — A historic rivalry game renews Saturday between the University of Texas at Austin Longhorns and the Texas A&M University Aggies.
However, a scholarship program between the two Texas universities aims to highlight the unity between the rival schools.
Texas A&M launched the Bonfire Unity Endowed Presidential Scholarship in 2000 "in remembrance of the spirit displayed by UT Austin students and faculty following the 1999 Bonfire tragedy" in College Station, in which 12 Aggies died and 27 others were injured.
The bonfire tradition began in 1907 to symbolize the "burning desire" to beat UT in football. The tradition will not be renewed this year, the university announced.
Two UT students who received the 2024 scholarship "are reflecting on the spirit displayed by Longhorns following the collapse on Nov. 18, 1999," according to UT.
Zeeyad Anwar, a UT sophomore, is one scholarship recipient this year. He is studying neuroscience on a pre-medical path. He plans to pursue psychology to help others struggling with mental health, especially first-generation American communities.
"Immigrant communities often see mental health as a taboo subject," he said. "So as a doctor, in the future, as a psychiatrist, I really hope to be this force to help people who are struggling just like me."
Outside of school work, he works to give mental health resources to area youth and help students with college applications.
Anwar said the Division of Student Affairs’ scholarship preserves the history of Texas universities helping one another during their darkest times, regardless of rivalries.
"I think regardless of whether you're an Aggie, a Longhorn or anything else, we all share this innate desire to help other people," he said. "And I think that's something you just can't take away from a Texas student."
