Hampden-Sydney College held the Big Event Saturday, April 13, where almost 200 students volunteered in the local community. Tigers lined up in the Brown Student Center to receive their community service project assignments as part of the annual Big Event. The day of service originated at Texas A&M and has become one of the largest student-led service projects in the nation. This marks the ninth year Hampden-Sydney has participated in the event. The day is designed as a way to give back to the community. Projects included maintenance on the outdoor classroom at the local public school, Special Olympics, YMCA, GLC Horse Haven Farm, cleaning up its 20 miles of H-SC Adopt-A-Highways, Habitat ReStore, H-SC Fire Department, four homeowner projects, building bikes for the Taking Flight initiative, and Both Hands.

Service, however, is not limited to the Big Event day. The number of volunteer hours completed by H-SC students has more than tripled in the last three years — evidence of the college’s increasing emphasis on getting involved in the local community. Buck Rowe notes, “This was my second year doing the Big Event, so I got to learn about it last year. What I did not know is how widespread it was. People were on the highway, helped the YMCA, some were at houses like we did, etc. Personally, I enjoy community service. I’d love it if we did the Big Event more often!”