Registered student organizations, teams, and individuals have until March 21 to turn in their applications to volunteer at the BIG Event.
The BIG Event is the largest philanthropy event in Michigan, according to Student Government Administrative Assistant and BIG Event Director Amanda Jewell. Student government is responsible for planning and executing this event.
“So many schools around the United States are stepping up and having their own BIG Events, all originated from Texas A&M, the original BIG Event,” Student Government Vice President Yer Xiong said.
As of March 4, Jewell said there were 211 housing applications turned in from around the community. Students volunteer to perform service projects such as yard work, window washing and more.
“This is a Michigan statement, Ferris State University took the initiative to start the BIG Event,” Xiong said. “Here it’s great and I really encourage [students] to get super involved.”
Student Government Parliamentarian Trever Waller started volunteering at the BIG Event his freshman year in the housing committee with student government.
“I’ve gone back every single year and I’ve seen the same people to do their housing evaluations,” Waller said. “Usually housing evaluations take about 15 minutes but for me they usually take about an hour because I just sit there and talk with the people that I’ve met and it’s just a great time.”
The community has been very thankful for the work the students do, according to Jewell.
“We make such an impact, not only on campus and the community but it impacts yourself,” Jewell said.
Students can receive volunteer hours for working at the Big Event. Jewell said as a part of the housing committee she surpassed the “Initiative 125.” “Initiative 125” is an award given to students who have completed more than 125 hours of community service.
“A lot of times in interviews, people say, ‘what kind of community service projects did you take part in?’ Well this is the biggest event in the nation, so you can really talk this up and how you were a part of it,” Student Government Treasurer Josh DeMars said.
Volunteer applications must be turned in by March 21 at 5 p.m. in the student government office located in Helen Ferris 26 and 28. Applications can be found on the OrgSync page of student government or the Ferris Big Event Facebook page.
The Big Event will be on Saturday, April 12 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.