Ole Miss Students Commemorate Community with ‘The Big Event’

A Day of Service and Gratitude

On April 6, over 1,000 University of Mississippi students will take to the city of Oxford and Lafayette County to contribute their time as a token of gratitude to the embracing community. The students, involved in a large scale outreach called ‘The Big Event,’ aim to express their thanks by partaking in a variety of community service activities.

Established Tradition of The Big Event Continues

The tradition of ‘The Big Event’ was commenced in 2011, providing the students with the opportunity to love back the community that has cherished them for years. As a part of the event, students volunteer for about four hours, engaging themselves in a myriad of activities ranging from cleaning, pruning, weeding, painting, to collecting garbage. The work arena covers schools, churches, nonprofits, community centers, and even private homes.

Roles and Opportunities for Student Participation

Meredith Whited, director of internal operations for The Big Event, explains the registration process for interested students. Throughout the year, the opportunity to apply for any five areas of The Big Event is available, as students can serve as an assistant director, chair, or committee member. For those who have missed the chance of registering, walk-ins are always an option on the day of the event.

New Award in The Big Event

In this year’s event, a new award dubbed ‘The Golden Shovel!’ has been announced. It will be presented at the opening ceremony to the group of students which carries the most attendees.

The Impact on Students and Community

Landon Wong, director of community outreach for The Big Event, sheds light on the implications of hosting such a large-scale service day. “It helps develop team bonding, patience, and labor skills,” he said. Further explaining its importance in student life, Wong mentioned that it’s a remarkable way of familiarizing students with the community beyond the university. Not only this, but the event also allows students to positively impact the community that has contributed so much to their lives.

Types of Projects and their Benefits

While some projects will require the collective force of a dozen or more volunteers, smaller ones may need the assistance of one or two students. “Smaller projects can help the volunteers become closer to one another as well as the project hosts themselves, enabling us to help a lot more areas in the community. Larger projects, on the other hand, grant us an opportunity to put in a great deal of effort into a grand project that might need a great deal of attention,” said Wong.

Project Registration and Future Projects

Although the project registration deadline has passed, there is still a window for adding one or two more projects, if there’s a significant need. “As of now, we have a great selection of projects within and just outside of Lafayette County. We aim to maintain consistency between the project site and volunteer numbers,” said Whited.

Staying Informed about The Big Event

For continued updates and further information, followers can track The Big Event on platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and X @olemissbigevent.