The Big Event makes big return to local communities
‘It’s not just about coming back to class, … it’s about being together again and helping out the community.”
By Kyle Hobstetter on May 1, 2022
Vernon Hurte is usually one of the first to arrive at most Towson University on-campus events. So the vice president of student affairs was surprised to find that many students beat him to Saturday’s Big Event.
The Big Event, the university’s largest day of service, returned for its 12th edition, after being virtual last year. Hundreds of Towson University students volunteered in about 30 surrounding neighborhoods and community organizations. Students checked in at Tiger Plaza at 8:15 a.m. for the day of service.
“The Big Event is one the great traditions here at TU. Our students really show their commitment to serving the community,” said Hurte as he walked through a breakfast for the students.
“We are the anchor institution for greater Baltimore, so to have students who show their leadership through service, it’s just really amazing.”
Volunteers ranged from members of different student organizations, Greek Life and athletic teams, among many others.
“It’s nice to have students back on campus serving and being out in the community interacting with residents and people in the neighborhood associations,” said Banke Adeniji, Towson University’s coordinator of community service[BROKEN LINK].
“[The community is] grateful and [has] missed our students. They’re really excited to have them come back, be there and interact.”
One of those local residents was Kate Knott, who has lived in the Southland Hills neighborhood for 17 years. On Saturday, she watched as the men’s club soccer team did some landscaping around her community, which is right next to campus, on the other side of Towsontown Boulevard.
“Whenever we can get an extra set of hands, especially some strong, young people, it’s very helpful to us,” Knott said. “This is great not just for us, but for the students, because they are part of the overall Towson community. We all need to live and coexist, and it’s great to see them out here and being so enthusiastic.”
Being part of the Towson community was a big theme throughout the day, especially for members of the Student Government Association (SGA), who volunteered at the annual Towsontown Spring Festival.
SGA members spent the afternoon keeping the festival grounds clean by picking up garbage.
“This has been so fun being out in the community, interacting with local residents and helping out where we can,” said SGA President Jordan DeVeaux as she walked around the festival.
“The Big Event embodies everything we wanted in returning to campus. It’s not just about coming back to class, not just coming back to finish our degrees, but it’s about being together again and helping out the community.”
The Big Event is another example of how Towson University not only gives back to the community but also provides students with experiential learning opportunities.
Beyond the Big Event, there plenty of other service opportunities throughout the year, such as Alternative Break Connections, TU Serves, Project Serve, being part of a service-based student organization or volunteering off campus.
“We educate our students inside the classroom, but so much of the learning happens outside of the classroom,” Hurte said. “Our team in civic engagement and social responsibility provides opportunities to bring those two pieces of the learning experience together.”