Erik Ebanks is receiving what's referred to as a second education at Texas A&M.

Having been active in Traditions Council and the Corps of Cadets, he now serves as Commander of the Ross Volunteers.

"I felt like I belonged here," Ebanks said during a recent interview at the Bonfire Memorial.

But the 21-year-old's decision to come to A&M was a shock to those around him.

"My whole family, the whole spectrum of the family really looked down upon A&M at the time, Ebanks admits. "I think those feelings are starting to fade away now."

That time was a decade ago when Aggie Bonfire collapsed, killing Erik's second cousin, Michael Ebanks.

"Michael was probably the closest person I've ever had to a brother," he said. "Michael could do anything. He could really do anything."

Erik was just 11-years-old when his cousin died.

"It was so surreal. I couldn't believe Michael had passed away in such a horrible tragedy," Erik said.

The loss was almost unthinkable considering what the Ebanks family had already been through.
Their oldest son, Keith, an Aggie graduate, was killed in a car accident five years before Michael died.

Today, Erik spends time at the Bonfire Memorial, reflecting on the past, while looking to the future.

"There's been a pretty bad scar on Texas A&M University since then, and I think we need to fill the void with something other than bonfire."

Recently, Aggie graduate Governor Rick Perry told Texas Monthly that he thought bonfire would return to campus, as early as next year.

"I feel like he's coming from the Old Army perspective of, let's bring
back bonfire regardless of the consequences, regardless of the risks or anything like that," Ebanks said.

"We need to find something to replace it soon. Bonfire didn't build the Aggie spirit, the Aggie spirit built bonfire."

A spirit loved by Michael, living out a legacy through Erik.

Erik is set to graduate from A&M in May 2011 and will commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U-S Army.