By Shelby Westinghouse, Chadron State College
CHADRON, Neb. – Chadron State College’s annual student-led day of service, The Big Event, is returning April 11. Jobsite registration forms are open to Chadron businesses and residents until March 31. Volunteers registered by March 31 are guaranteed a free T-shirt and sandwich.
For CSC Business major Adam Beard of Berthoud, Colorado, being part of TBE’s media and marketing team is a great real-world application.
“I am excited for the day of The Big Event. Seeing the groundwork that we have put in during our weekly meetings, advertising, jobsite appraisals and volunteer coordination will make the day of the event memorable,” he said.
Jobsite applications are open to all community members in need of service assistance. In previous years, volunteers have completed a range of projects for the community including planting trees, picking up trash, painting fences and general garden cleanup. Volunteers are prohibited from using power tools or ladders for safety purposes.
Staff member Emma Carfield of Treton, Nebraska, says one of the most memorable jobsites she worked on in the past was raking leaves for an elderly citizen. Carfield said it felt special to build a connection between a long-time resident and college students, such as herself, even when helping with a simple task.
The Big Event began at Texas A&M University in 1982 and has been adopted by 125 campuses across the nation. In 2013, CSC presented its first The Big Event, and continues to serve at around 50 jobsites each year.
Sign-up forms can be found at csc.edu/thebigevent and questions can be directed to Faculty Adviser Nicky McHugh at nmchugh@csc.edu or thebigevent@csc.edu.