The Big Event is a day of community service to the university and the city of Kingsville annually hosted by the Student Government Association (SGA).
This year the SGA received roughly 500 volunteer registrants willing to go out and volunteer their time to beautify the community. On March 2, students gathered at the intramural fields for check-in and were sent to various locations within the area of Kingsville.
The Big Event Committee’s goal is to get as many individuals involved and have prepared weeks in advance to ensure that everyone interested got an opportunity to register.
“We did a lot of tabling and reached out for sponsorships. We were able to provide waters, lunch and breakfast for volunteers. Legend’s sponsored us by providing waters and Campus Board of Activities was also able to help us organize for this event. We also reached out to the community and asked some non-profit businesses, and even talked to King Ranch who redirected us to other areas in Kingsville who could need our help,” said Sarah Bennet, chair of the Big Event Committee.
Each year there’s more students getting involved in the Big Event and new locations are being placed for volunteers to help. This year the Big Event Committee was able to volunteer in 11 different locations.
When students finished with their assigned location they were re-directed to a different location that needed help.
“The Big Event is important because it offers TAMUK an opportunity to give back to the community and for students to get involved. We want the community to know that we are here to help,” said Itzian Rendon, co-chair of the Big Event Committee.
This past Saturday several of TAMUK’s students were able to be spotted planting trees, picking up trash, raking leaves in several parks, churches, downtown and even on the side of the highway.
“Being that this town is the stamp of the university I feel that it is very important for TAMUK to do at least this event for not only us as a university, but Kingsville as a community. We are often viewed as a small college town, and that’s cool and all but we should also be seen as a town whose college gives and puts back into the community. Our goal was to get the word out there about the Big Event and to get as many people out to help and volunteer their time and service,” said Lue Gonzales, senator of Big Event Committee.
TAMUK is slowly transforming the community and is constantly striving to be involved with the community.
“This event establishes connections between TAMUK and the community and lets the community know that we are here to help. This is also a great way for students to see how much the community actually invests in cleaning and making it look better. The Big Event also motivates students to do community service as often as they can and establish connections amongst the community. Service brings out character for each individual,” said Katrina Sanchez, vice-president of the Big Event Committee.
