Texas A&M Universities Tradition of Helping Others

By Braden Becknell

The Big Event is one of Texas A&M University’s biggest tradition which also gives back to the community. In 1982, six Aggies, including Joe Nussbaum, the Vice President of the student Government Association at Texas A&M University, volunteered to clean up a local cemetery in College Station. Joe Nussbaum ’84, proposed a day long project where the students of A&M would show their appreciation to the citizens of the Bryan and College Station for their continual support of the college. The Big Event is the Aggie Tradition which has easily become the largest one-day student-run service project in the United States. The common saying with the event is “one big day, one big thanks and one Big Event.” The tasks involved are usually at residents’ homes through service-oriented activities. Although the number of services completed are high and the amount of students increases every year, it is simply not about the numbers. The unity formed through this community service outreach is uncanny and helps to make the entire area more of a family. In 2012 alone, more than 17,000 Texas A&M students, faculty, and staff worked together to finish this project. Almost 2,000 community service trades were completed on the day of the Big Event, 10% more than the year before.

Hundreds of clubs and organizations come together to put on this event with people even applying to become a staff assistant. The biggest shock to Joe Nussbaum was that students had to apply to be on the Big Event Committee and not everyone was chosen. The Big Event will have its 33rd anniversary on March 28, 2015. The Big Event is an opportunity for Aggies to say “Thank You” to residents in the communities of Bryan and College Station for the support that they provide throughout so many collegiate careers. Students can sign up as an individual, with a group of friends, or with an organization. The only requirements to participate is that you must either be enrolled in the university or employed by the university. You must also donate at least four hours of your time on the day of service as well as fill out a participation form online. At least one person in each organization or group must attend an informational meeting as well as with all the individuals. The application to sign up to participate starts on February 2 of 2015. So mark your calendar and be prepared to give back to a community that has supported you.

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