It’s all part of The BIG Event, a day of service that gives members of the Southwestern community the opportunity to spend time volunteering with local nonprofits. The event is modeled after a 30-year tradition that began at Texas A&M University.

This is the fourth year that Students for Sustained Civic Engagement at Southwestern University (SUSTAIN) has organized the event, and the program continues to grow each year. This year, 400 people have signed up to participate, up from the previous volunteer record of 350.

The goal of The Big Event is not only to give back to Georgetown, but also to maintain the existing relationships between Southwestern and Georgetown, and to foster new relationships through community service work. Volunteers will be stationed at 11 locations around the city, including the Boys & Girls Club of Georgetown, Special Olympics, Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter, Getsemani Community Center, and Wesleyan Homes Assisted Living and Memory Care.

 As a result of this event and many others coordinated by The Office of Civic Engagement, Southwestern has been included on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, with distinction. This distinction is the highest federal recognition that colleges and universities can receive for community service, community-engaged learning and civic engagement. This annual list highlights the role universities play in solving community problems and placing more students on a lifelong path of civic engagement by recognizing institutions that achieve meaningful, measurable outcomes in the communities they serve.

Details and additional information about The BIG Event can be found at http://southwestern.edu/thebigevent