More than 1,100 college students from Florida State University, Florida A&M University, and Tallahassee State College participated in community service projects across Tallahassee on February 21. The event, known as The Big Event Tallahassee, is part of a tradition that brings together students for two annual service days: The Little Event in the fall and The Big Event in the spring.
During these events, students assist nonprofit organizations, businesses, schools, and residences by organizing spaces, cleaning, or performing minor repairs such as painting. In the most recent spring event, students volunteered at over 55 locations throughout the city. In the previous fall event, more than 600 students helped at 40 different sites.
Students can sign up individually or as part of a group. Each year, awards called the Golden Shovel are given to organizations with the highest participation. This year’s winners were the Delta Lambda chapter of Beta Theta Pi for Fraternity and Sorority Life organizations and the Florida Beta chapter of Alpha Epsilon Delta for registered student organizations.
Stormy McGivern, director of the FSU Office of Student Organizations and Involvement, said: “The Big Event Tallahassee is truly a one‑of‑a‑kind experience. Not only does it bring students from FSU, FAMU and TSC together, it also creates meaningful connections between our students and the broader Tallahassee community. Investing in the place you call home during your college years is invaluable, and it’s inspiring to watch students learn about Tallahassee while making a positive impact. We’re incredibly proud of The Big Event RSO for earning national recognition as the Most Improved Big Event at this year’s One Big Thanks Conference.”
Participation in The Big Event Tallahassee has increased each year. Community organizations interested in becoming service sites are encouraged to register through The Big Event Tallahassee website at the start of each semester.
The initiative began at Texas A&M University in 1982 and has since spread to other colleges nationwide.
