Dating back to 2005, members within the Grand Forks community have come together and volunteered their time to the Big Event. The Big Event is a one-day community service event where university students are offered the opportunity to pay it forward and help the Greater Grand Forks community by completing as many service projects as possible within four hours.  This year, the Big Event is scheduled to take place on May 3, 2025. 

Some of these projects that students volunteer and take part in include helping clean and pick up trash within one of the many community parks that we have here in Grand Forks or assisting some of the senior citizens in Grand Forks with physically straining tasks, like landscaping or removing any debris that this past winter has left in their yards.  

Part of what makes the Big Event so special is the fact that it is the one day of the year that brings together students throughout the university that are part of different student organizations towards a common goal in serving the community.   

One of the organization leaders is Ben Lane, the president of Pi Kappa Alpha. Pi Kappa Alpha is one of the fraternities on campus that prides themselves on their philanthropic values and giving back. 

“Nothing is more important than serving others and being part of a fraternity where we come together and give our time towards helping others is truly something special,” Lane said when asked about the Big Event. “This sense of service is essential towards not only building a stronger community but creating lasting bonds with each other as we serve as well.” 

However, this commitment towards service is not exclusive towards members of Greek life as countless other student organizations are driven by the same goal and are taking part in the Big Event to help make a difference within the community as well.    

If you or somebody you know is looking towards potentially getting involved and taking part in this year’s Big Event, all you need to do now is visit the Big Event’s Instagram page at @thebigeventund and click on the sign-up link in the bio to register yourself for time slot and student organization that you plan on volunteering with. Registration closes on April 25, so make sure to be proactive about making a difference within the Grand Forks community and take part in the Big Event this year. 

Daniel Silva is a Dakota Student General Reporter. He can be reached at daniel.silva@und.edu.