USM Volunteers Readying for Day of Community Outreach through “The Big Event” April 27

Tue, 04/23/2024 - 09:05am | By: David Tisdale

Approximately 400 students from The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) will circulate throughout the Hattiesburg area Saturday, April 27 participating in community service projects through the annual day of service known as ‘The Big Event.” This initiative is sponsored by the USM Division of Student Affairs.

The annual day of service, designed to connect students to the city through volunteerism, begins with students and group leaders meeting at 8:45 a.m. at Spirit Park on the Hattiesburg campus, where they will be welcomed by USM President Dr. Joseph S. Paul and Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker. The students, with assistance from USM faculty, staff, and other volunteer coordinators, will then leave to go to their assigned service sites at locations throughout the city to perform a variety of tasks from 10 a.m. – noon.

“Cultivating and maintaining a positive relationship between Hattiesburg and Southern Miss is mutually beneficial,” said USM Executive Director of Student Life Laura Laughlin. “We love that The Big Event allows students to serve their community and get to know Hattiesburg better, and the opportunity for them to form more relationships with other students and administrators across campus is also invaluable.”

For more information about The Big Event, contact Laughlin.