Students to thank Tallahassee community at ‘The Big Event’

Florida State University students will give one big thanks to the Tallahassee community during The Big Event.

Nearly 2,500 volunteers will participate in the eighth annual student-led service project Saturday, April 2, with the goal of thanking the residents of Tallahassee.

“We’re here for four years,” said Taylor Selbach, student co-executive director of The Big Event. “This event is a catalyst to make connections with the Tallahassee community and a way students can say thanks for allowing them to live their college lives.”

The Big Event will kickoff at 9:15 a.m. at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center parking lot. President John Thrasher and faculty member Mark Zeigler will speak, the Seminole Dance Force will perform and food will be provided by Insomnia Cookies, Vale Food Co. and more.

Following the kickoff, tools will be distributed to students, faculty and staff from FSU as well as Florida A&M University and Tallahassee Community College. The volunteers will be assigned to a variety of service projects and will work to complete them throughout the day.

The Big Event co-executive directors Jennifer Lucas and Taylor Selbach
The Big Event co-executive directors Jennifer Lucas and Taylor Selbach.

Projects include volunteer work with the Second Harvest of the Big Bend, Goodwill, retirement homes, and window washing and yard work for private residences.

“We have a satisfaction focus, ” Selbach said. “Whatever Tallahassee wants, we provide.”

The Big Event began at Texas A&M University 28 years ago as an SGA initiative to say thank you to the college community. Florida State adopted the program in 2009. Today, The Big Event is one of the largest one-day, student-led service projects in the nation.

For more information, visit: http://thebigevent.fsu.edu.