It is the largest student-run organization in the nation with more than 9,000 participants: the Big Event.
With Texas A&M as its home, the Big Event is associated with 71 university campuses across the nation.
Active members say they try to give back to the community they serve for all their care and support. The Big Event director said that whether they are hosting fundraisers, charities, common jobs or assistance the Big Event is a helpful and dependable organization.
The students who run the organization, such as Director Anna Rash, take pride in showing A&M how much they appreciate and care about the community.
"This is a truly rewarding experience that you cannot get anywhere else, and it is for anyone who wants to take part," Rash said.
The Big Event offers numerous different jobs at three levels of commitment for students throughout the organization. Students may serve on a committee, assist members or volunteer.
Students may serve on a year-long committee, from September to April. These positions have an application process, followed by an interview for qualified candidates.
Staff assistant members are part of the next level in Big Event. A staff assistant helps check jobs and sign liability waivers.
The participants are those who go out into the community and volunteer services to those in need, by cleaning yards or repairing houses.
Rash does her best to put a great staff together. Every Tuesday, before a meeting, they go out to dinner and get to know each other. A percentage of what they spend going out to eat goes back to Big Event to help with facilitating.
In the fall, the Big Event has a Fall Committee Service Project, where the groups come together to work on a project. Organizations such as Big Event make it easy to have a bonding experience with those involved. Throughout the year, there are socials once a month. "Basically what you put in, you will get out of it," Rash said.
This program gives students an experience they can remember. "I really appreciated what we did and how we gave back to the people who can't live the life we do," said Matt Grumbein, graduate student. Grumbein was part of the Big Event his freshman and junior years and said he had many memorable experiences.
"It was a mutual decision between a group of friends who didn't know what to expect when arriving on campus," Grumbein said. "It was a opportunity to get out of my selfish college existence."
The opportunity to show young adults how such a big responsibility can affect them and better them makes Big Event so successful, the campus programs assistant said. Getting involved is important to those who want to make a difference and want to fill their extra time away from studying with a good deed.
The chores done during the Big Event are often simple, like washing windows, gardening or building. Big or small the Big Event fully supports anything that can help the community around the A&M campus.
"Big Event offers every student the opportunity to spend a day strengthening the community that has given so much to A&M. Through various projects, Aggies learn the value of service and what it means to give of oneself. Every Aggie can and should get involved," Carter said.
Next year's Big Event will occur March 29, 2008.
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