THOMAS GRANING | The Daily Mississippian
Students participate in The Big Event last year
This year The University of Mississippi Big Event is teaming up with Renasant Bank to make this the biggest service event in Oxford’s history.
The Big Event is when the students of the university dedicate a day to giving back to the Oxford and Lafayette communities.
Kristin Volker, co-director of Big Event and senior management major, said she hopes to show students how to make time for service during their busy schedules.
“This year’s event will focus on reiterating the importance of service,” Volker said. “Everyone leads such busy lives that we want to show our students that service is easy. We strive to better the Ole Miss family by providing an outlet for service.”
The Big Event committee is almost entirely student-run. Brandi Hephner LaBanc, vice chancellor for student affairs, said she is thoroughly impressed with the leadership and accomplishments of the students involved.
“It is one of the many programs that highlight how we at the university work toward helping students apply what they are learning in the classroom,” LaBanc said. “These students are difference makers on our campus and in the broader community. They represent the family spirit of our campus and are leading the way for their peers.”
This is the Big Event’s fifth year. The program started in 2010 with a first-year turnout of 1,200 students. In 2012, 3,000 students participated with nearly 300 service projects completed.
Projects in the past have included painting, yard work, washing windows, cleaning and assisting the elderly.
Madison Coburn, co-director and senior public policy leadership major, said she is excited for the turnout this year.
“We look forward to seeing thousands of Ole Miss students working to say thank you to the Oxford and Lafayette communities,” Coburn said. “It’s so incredible to be part of a team dedicated to service in planning the Big Event.”
The Big Event will take place Saturday, March 22. Students are asked to arrive between 7 and 7:30 a.m. for registration and are encouraged to register to volunteer online through their MyOleMiss account. Group applications are due March 3, and individual applications are due March 17.
More information can be found at http://dos.orgsync.com/org/bigevent/home.
