Members of the St. Edward’s University community devoted a couple hours of their morning last Saturday to volunteer for the annual Big Event. Participants gathered at the Alumni Gym at 9 a.m. for registration for the volunteer effort. They were given a free T-shirt, as well as complimentary breakfast that consisted of everything from Chick-Fil-A, doughnuts, fruits and beverages. The participants were also assigned to a site leader that directed one of the 21 separate sites for the event. Seven of the sites were larger commercial projects that included volunteer work at Barton Springs, Capital Area Food Bank, and Blunn Creek. The other 15 sites were in residential areas and mainly helped homes around the university with yard work. Once the groups for each site were determined, students either rode in vans or walked to their project site. Junior Jason Chau was a site leader for one of the residential projects. His group pulled weeds, laid mulch and collected leaves for compost pick-up at their site. “I participate in the Big Event each year because it is a great tradition here at St. Edward’s University,” Chau said. “Through the Big Event, we get to show how great SEU is to the Austin community. We are serving the community we live in, and by doing that, I feel like a true Austinite and Hilltopper.” More than 260 students and faculty participated in the event, with the majority joining as a group with their organizations or athletic teams, according to the Student Government Association. Some of the organizations were the women’s basketball team, the Communication Society and the Rugby Club. Senior Kasey Harlos, a Hilltopper women’s basketball player, participated in the Big Event with her team. “I love doing volunteer work,” Harlos said. “It is great to see that I am helping other people in the community. The project I did this year was way different from the two I’ve done before, but it was still enjoyable.” At her previous two Big Events, Harlos did community service for two elderly home owners – clearing a back yard her first year and painting a house the next. This year, she was assigned to pull invasive plants and weeds at Barton Springs in Zilker Park. The  temperature reached the 90s that day, but drifting clouds gave volunteers who were working outside moments of relief from the sun. Participants returned to the Alumni Gym after completing their assigned projects to fill out an evaluation form on the event and receive their redeemable coupon for a free lunch at Cabo Bob’s Burritos.