NSU celebrates 13 years of serving communities

(Tahlequah, Oklahoma) - This year marked 13 years of Northeastern State Universitys participation in The Big Event, where university students, faculty and staff come together across the nation to say thank you to the communities that support them by volunteering to serve.

Tahlequah volunteers served on March 30, cleaning up community spaces and helping homeowners tackle yardwork and chores. Broken Arrow volunteers served on April 20, repainting signs and animal statues at the Ray Harral Nature Center.

This years event allowed nearly 300 volunteers to serve 41 job sites in the communities.

Sara Ryals, Tahlequah junior and The Big Event media executive, said her favorite part of volunteering this year was entering the community as a media representative.

This position has allowed me to see the volunteers in action for the homeowners, Ryals said. I have gotten to see the impact this event makes with my own eyes. The Big Event truly goes beyond what so many expect. Many community members rely on The Big Event to do things they cannot. It is my honor to play a role in this service.

Ryals said that The Big Event helps students as much as it helps the communities.

Although some community members may feel that The Big Event is doing a service for them, as students, we are truly the ones that are being allowed the impact. Due to The Big Event job site owners, volunteers are getting to spend a day focusing on things outside of themselves and outside of their responsibilities.