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Big Event

The biggest day of service at St. Ed's

By St. Edward's University

April 1^st, 2024

20 Years of Big Event

Big Event is the largest student-run project on campus and it aims to give back to both the campus as well as the local Austin community through service projects. This year, Hilltoppers celebrated Big Event's 20th anniversary by volunteering on and off campus.

SFS Garden and Food Forest

Volunteers helped with various projects at the Students for Sustainability campus garden and food forest, including weeding, planting, seeding and painting birdhouses.

Volunteers work at the Students for Sustainability campus garden and food forest service project.

Volunteers work at the Students for Sustainability campus garden and food forest service project.

Volunteers work at the Students for Sustainability campus garden and food forest service project.

A volunteer tosses seeds and soil during the Students for Sustainability campus garden and food forest service project.

A volunteer paints a birdhouse during the Students for Sustainability campus garden and food forest service project.

Volunteers paint birdhouses during the Students for Sustainability campus garden and food forest service project.

A volunteer paints a birdhouse during the Students for Sustainability campus garden and food forest service project.

Volunteers stand by bluebonnets and garden plots during the Students for Sustainability campus garden and food forest service project.

Volunteers work during the Students for Sustainability campus garden and food forest service project

A volunteer holds a plant ready to be planted during the Students for Sustainability campus garden and food forest service project

Central Texas Food Bank

Volunteers cut and tied produce bags as well as weighed and packed potatoes and zucchini that would be shared with those in need.

Volunteers pack and weigh produce at the Central Texas Food Bank service project.

Volunteers pack and weigh produce at the Central Texas Food Bank service project.

Volunteers pack and weigh produce at the Central Texas Food Bank service project.

Volunteers pack and weigh produce at the Central Texas Food Bank service project.

Volunteers pack and weigh produce at the Central Texas Food Bank service project.

Volunteers cut and tie produce bags at the Central Texas Food Bank service project.

Volunteers cut and tie produce bags at the Central Texas Food Bank service project.

A volunteer loads produce into a shipment box at the Central Texas Food Bank service project.

A volunteer loads produce into a shipment box at the Central Texas Food Bank service project.

A volunteer weighs and packs produce at the Central Texas Food Bank service project.

Campus Beautification

Volunteers planted flowers in planters around campus, added more milkweed and other plants to the Monarch Garden at the Equity Hall and Premont Hall courtyard, and freshened up the flower beds around the university seal.

Volunteers plant plants in planters during the campus beautification service project.

Volunteers plant plants in planters during the campus beautification service project.

Volunteers stand in front of newly-planted milkweed and other plants in the Monarch Garden during the campus beautification service project.

Volunteers weed and rake the flower bed by the university seal during the campus beautification service project.

A volunteer weeds the flower bed at the university seal during the campus beautification service project.

Austin Pets Alive

Volunteers cut and tied fleece blankets for shelter animals as well as made them "adopt me" bandanas and fabric rope toys.

Volunteers cut and tie fleece blankets at the Austin Pets Alive service project.

Volunteers cut and tie fleece blankets at the Austin Pets Alive service project.

Fleece blankets, adopt me bandanas and fabric rope toys made at the Austin Pets Alive service project.

Volunteers decorate adopt me bandanas during the Austin Pets Alive service project.

Volunteers cut and tie fleece blankets at the Austin Pets Alive service project.

Volunteers cut and tie fleece blankets and decorate adopt me bandanas at the Austin Pets Alive service project.

A volunteer decorates an adopt me bandana during the Austin Pets Alive service project.

Wild Basin Creative Research Center and Wilderness Preserve

Volunteers helped with trail maintenance and moving logs.

Volunteers at the Wild Basin Creative Research Center and Wilderness Preserve service project.

Volunteers at the Wild Basin Creative Research Center and Wilderness Preserve service project.

Volunteers at the Wild Basin Creative Research Center and Wilderness Preserve service project.

Volunteers move logs at the Wild Basin Creative Research Center and Wilderness Preserve service project.

Volunteers at the Wild Basin Creative Research Center and Wilderness Preserve service project.

The Huddle

Volunteers cleaned and refreshed paint in The Huddle as well as sorted and organized food pantry donations.

Volunteers paint ceiling tiles at The Huddle service project.

Volunteers paint ceiling tiles at The Huddle service project.

A volunteer cleans windows at The Huddle service project.

Volunteers clean the kitchen at The Huddle service project.

A volunteer paints a wall at The Huddle service project.

A volunteer organizes food pantry donations at The Huddle service project.

A volunteer organizes food pantry donations at The Huddle service project.

Blunn Creek

Volunteers participated in a trash pickup at the campus creek and surrounding grounds.

Volunteers stand outside of Blunn Creek during the trash cleanup service project.

Any Baby Can

Volunteers made popsicle puzzles for young clients to use during visits.

Volunteers make popsicle puzzles during the Any Baby Can service project.

A volunteer makes a popsicle puzzle during the Any Baby Can service project.

Volunteers make popsicle puzzles during the Any Baby Can service project.

Popsicle puzzles at the Any Baby Can service project.

Volunteers make popsicle puzzles during the Any Baby Can service project.

A volunteer takes a photo of a popsicle puzzle at the Any Baby Can service project.

A volunteer holds a popsicle puzzle at the Any Baby Can service project.

Other Service Projects

• Sammy's House: Volunteers helped with administrative assistance and building beautification in the Childcare Development Center.

• The Trail Conservancy: Volunteers participated with trash cleanups on Austin trails.

• Austin Creative Reuse: Volunteers measured, sorted and packed donated fabrics.

Big Event Executive Team

The Big Event executive team stand together in the Alumni Gym.

Big Event Site Leaders

The Big Event site leaders stand together in the Alumni Gym.

Big Event

Footnotes

Photography by Chelsea Purgahn and Emmanuel Epau

FootNotes

Photography by Chelsea Purgahn and Emmanuel Epau

© 2026 St. Edward's University

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