Junior management major Brittani Leblanc digs while senior spanish education major Micaela Lanus and sophomore biology major Brandi Baumy plants a tree.
The Lion's Roar/Collin Guedon

The Big Event was originally scheduled for Mar. 12, but due to the inclement weather that hit southeast Louisiana, The Big Event was rescheduled for this past Saturday, Apr 23. 

In contrast to Mar. 12, Apr. 23 was a beautiful day without a cloud in sight and university students took advantage of every second of it, serving the Hammond community by doing everything from free car washes to planting trees. 

“Its such an honor to work in the Hammond community and to be able to serve the community in which I go to school,” said senior social work major and Associate Chief Justice of Student Government Association Jasmine Wilson. 

Wilson was not the only Southeastern student excited to serve the community. 

“My favorite part of the Big Event is definitely being able to help the community that has helped me so much,” said senior general studies major and SGA Public Relations cabinet member Myranda Triche.

Another great thing about The Big Event is that it brings students together. 

“It’s definitely interesting whenever you put different groups with each other who don’t normally interact,” said junior political science major and SGA President Alexis Quackenbush. “You definitely see them get along and get to know one another.” 

The way SGA accomplishes this is by grouping different sororities and fraternities together. The success of this year’s Big Event did not come without its share of trials and tribulations. Many of the places that Southeastern scheduled to serve on the original date of The Big Event purchased materials for the original date, so they were not able to participate at the rescheduled time. 

“The hardest thing is that it was nothing we could control,” said senior kinesiology major and SGA Big Event Chair Jeremiah Eisenhardt. “It’s just something you have to take and roll with. Some of the sites were more difficult because they wanted us to use some plants and plants have to be planted soon, so they couldn’t stay with us for the rescheduled date.” 

Through all of this, Southeastern students still showed up with Lion pride. 

“With the Big Event being delayed by a month, the turnout we had was fantastic,” said Triche. Even though this year’s Big Event had a few setbacks, the main goal of the day was still met. People from different groups came together to serve the Hammond community and had fun doing it.

 Senior accounting major Brinely Giluso and senior phsychology major Lauren Snowdy hold signs for free car washes. 
The Lion's Roar/Collin Guedon

Sophomore nursing major Madeline DeLeon washes a fire truck. 
The Lion's Roar/Collin Guedon