Texas A&M University will come together on Tuesday, April 7, to honor Computer Engineering Ph.D. student Zaiyan Xu at the Silver Taps Ceremony, held at Academic Plaza at 10:30 p.m. The event is a solemn and cherished tradition, providing the Aggie community an opportunity to pause, reflect, and pay tribute to students who have passed away. Tonight, the university also remembers Blake Dorman, Class of 2024, alongside Zaiyan Xu, Class of 2028.
Silver Taps is one of Texas A&M’s most profound traditions, a ceremony held in silence to honor and memorialize those students whose lives were lost during the academic year. Before each ceremony, the names of the students being honored are displayed at two locations in Academic Plaza: engraved at the base of the flagpole and on the Silver Taps sculpture. This sculpture, featuring an Aggie Band bugle resting atop a flag, serves as a powerful symbol of remembrance and unity for the university community.
The Silver Taps sculpture was generously given by the Class of 1991 and, in 2019, was relocated to the northwest corner of Academic Plaza to join the Class of 1995’s Muster sculpture and other commemorative markers. Together, they form Spirit Plaza, a space dedicated to the memory of Aggies who have left a lasting impact on the university. These markers and ceremonies reinforce the values of tradition, respect, and remembrance that are central to Texas A&M.
Zaiyan Xu’s contributions to the Computer Engineering program, alongside his dedication to research and community, will be remembered and honored tonight. In the heart of Texas A&M, tradition and memory intertwine, ensuring that these students, their stories, and their legacies endure. The Aggie family gathers in quiet reflection, honoring lives lost while celebrating the enduring spirit of camaraderie and remembrance that defines Texas A&M.