334 Volunteers Transform Chadron in Annual Big Event
College students and staff spent a Saturday completing yard work, park maintenance, and community projects across Chadron, Nebraska. Nearly 100 student athletes joined neighbors and faculty to serve 43 locations in need.
When windstorms tore through Jan Thomas's yard in Chadron, Nebraska, she didn't know where to start with the cleanup. Then a neighbor told her about The Big Event, and 334 college volunteers showed up to help.
Chadron State College's annual service day brought together students, faculty, and community members for a Saturday of transformation. The volunteers registered for 43 different job sites, tackling everything from storm-damaged yards to city parks and public spaces.
Student staff member Laynee Boltz from North Platte said the event creates rare face-to-face connections. "The Big Event gives us the opportunity to actually meet with the community and help out," she explained.
For Adam Beard, a student from Berthoud, Colorado, the day offered a chance to step beyond campus boundaries. "I get caught up in my classes and my on-campus activities," Beard said. "So it's nice to work with and meet people who I live around."
The football team alone contributed nearly 100 student athletes for two hours of service. Coach Jay Long said his players worked at three of the four city parks, made fairground repairs, and helped local nonprofits including the Circle of Light and Dawes County Historical Society Museum.
The Ripple Effect
The connection between town and college runs both ways, creating a cycle of support that motivates continued service. "They come out and support us," said student Liam Blaser. "Being able to give back to those people is what makes the town of Chadron special."
Nebraska State College System Chancellor Paul Turman has volunteered for seven years running. This year, he worked alongside track athletes to spread four dump truck loads of mulch across community spaces.
Jan Thomas's cleaned-up yard now stands as one of dozens of completed projects. "The yard is looking so much better now," she said. "Thank you to all who worked on our yard."
College President Jodi Kupper thanked everyone who showed up to make a difference for neighbors who needed it.
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This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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