About
Since its introduction in 1982, The Big Event has become the largest one-day, student-run service project in the nation. The movement first reached McNeese State University in 2012 and was officially re-established in 2025 by a new generation of student leaders. Each spring, hundreds of Pokes come together to say "Thank You" to the residents of Lake Charles and the surrounding Southwest Louisiana community.
McNeese students participate in this annual event to show their appreciation to the neighbors who support the university, completing service projects such as yard work, window washing, and painting. As this tradition continues to grow at McNeese, our mission remains the same: to simply say "Thank You."
“Through service-oriented activities, The Big Event promotes campus and community unity as students come together for one day to express their gratitude for the support from the surrounding community.”
The Big Event is a proud and recognized student organization of McNeese State University.
History
In 1982, Joe Nussbaum, then Vice President of the Student Government Association at Texas A&M University, started The Big Event as a way for students to say "Thank You" to the surrounding community. Nussbaum envisioned a one-day service project where residents would be shown appreciation for their continued support of students during their college careers. Mr. Nussbaum viewed The Big Event as a means for students to show their gratitude by completing various tasks at area residents’ homes. He believed that giving one big thanks on One Big Day each year was the least the students could do for their community.
This mission of selfless service reached McNeese State University in 2012. Originally introduced through the Student Government Association, the project was created to unify the campus and serve the Southwest Louisiana community. While the event saw initial success, the organization eventually went dormant and the tradition was lost for several years.
In 2025, sophomore Andrew Dalton officially re-established The Big Event at McNeese with the help of other dedicated students. This revival established the program as a permanent student organization with the structure needed to grow every year. Today, the movement continues to expand, bringing together hundreds of Pokes to show our appreciation for the neighbors and the community that support us.