What started as a simple idea to help clean cemeteries in 1982 has grown into the largest one-day, student-run service project in the nation.
The Big Event at Texas A&M University is a testament to the power of selfless service, uniting tens of thousands of students each spring to give back to the Bryan-College Station community, home of Texas A&M’s main campus. Harnessing the power of 17,000 student volunteers with the same passion in choosing to give back, more than 2,300 job requests across the Brazos Valley were fulfilled during the one-day event.
People around the Brazos Valley, like Charlotte Bergstad (center), had their homes spruced up with the help of Aggie volunteers during the annual Big Event.
“I think it’s a choice to selflessly serve, which is really unique to The Big Event and to Texas A&M, seeing as it is one of our Core Values … it builds character of students getting to serve the community,” said Betsy Taylor ‘25, undergraduate student and member of the Big Event Public Relations Committee.
The tradition — rooted in gratitude and service — has inspired more than 116 college campuses across the country to launch their own student-run, service-oriented events, proving that Texas A&M’s steadfast commitment to serving others has created momentum nationwide.
I think it’s a choice to selflessly serve, which is really unique to The Big Event and to Texas A&M, seeing as it is one of our Core Values … it builds character of students getting to serve the community.
Texas A&M invites students from other Big Event chapters across the nation to the One Big Thanks Conference in College Station, where participants learn how to implement their own service event. These same students are then welcomed back to shadow Texas A&M’s Big Event staff during the actual event — from observing the coordination of volunteers and tool distribution to watching how Aggies interact with community members.
“We had over 13 different universities [from] all across the United States, as far as Florida and Virginia, come to A&M and see what it was like to serve others and learn about new leadership skills and just develop their own versions of The Big Event,” said Leila Chang ’26, undergraduate student and member of the Public Relations Committee for Texas A&M’s Big Event.
During this year’s Big Event at Texas A&M, student representatives from Texas State University and Tarleton State University observed day-of logistics that equipped Aggie volunteers at the event. Candace Taggart, one of the officers for Texas State’s Big Event chapter, talked about the importance of their active citizenship and service in the San Marcos community and the value of tailoring their event to meet the needs of their local community.
Photos by Abbey Santoro and Laura McKenzie/Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications
The exponential growth of The Big Event at Texas A&M over the last four decades showcases the Aggie Spirit and its lasting impact through leadership, demonstrating how a simple act of giving back can inspire a culture of service that extends far beyond a single college campus. As more universities adopt The Big Event model, Texas A&M continues to lead by example, showing that service is not just an event — it’s a way of life.
