Special Edition: The Big Event

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THURSDAY APRIL 27, 2017

THE BIG EVENT full coverage at csceagle.com

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Kyle Dietsch e, Tail Loop Trai 22, senior of Sheridan, W l Saturday du yo ring The Big ming, chops up a chunk Event. of wood to

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Students get social Jordyn Hulinsky, Jay Feltson, Justin Brester, & Nalani Stewart Managing Editor, Opinion Editor, & Reporters

Photo by Nalani Stewart

Barbara McCarthy, seventh grade math teacher at Chadron Middle School, of Chadron, trims hedges at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church on Saturday during The Big Event.

Volunteers who participated in the fifth The Big Event were able to provide some much-needed help to community members and to each other. The Big Event is a direct way for students and faculty to give back to the town and show their appreciation to the businesses and various areas.

After the spring football game ended and all the students finished their Subway sandwiches and received The Big Event T-shirts, volunteers headed to the jobsites.

One of those areas was the Ridgeview Bible Church. Lee Branson, a Chadron resident, who’s in charge of the building and grounds for the church, described the volunteer work as “very helpful.”

“The group had a lot of good man power, and was a lot of help for things that we haven’t had the man power for,” he said.

Volunteers first helped move items for a garage sale from the home of a church member to the church.

Kristi Johnson, of Chadron, houses materials for an annual mission garage sale.

The items are donated and then sold at a yearly event to raise money for people going on mission trips. This year, CSC students Alexis Phillips, 21, junior of Bellmont, and Eli Badje, 20, sophomore of Hay Springs will be going on trips to Africa and Alaska, respectively.

“Having all these people here to help is a huge boost,” Johnson said, “I love all the muscle and work ethic.”

About 80 CSC students, and 20 Pine Ridge Job Corps. students, attend church at Ridgeview, according to Johnson.

“It is kind of like mission trips, you know,” Johnson said, “like with The Big Event or with mission trips; there is joy in serving others. And, there’s definitely joy in receiving it as well!”

The volunteers uncovered and moved larger rocks that were along the property, and next, placed them on the flatbed of a truck to be removed. All group members were high-spirited.

“I know there’s a variety of work going on, but being outside is the best, I know this might not seem like much, but it’s important,” said Andrew Smith, 19, freshman of Chadron.

The group members expressed how much they wanted to show the residents of Chadron their appreciation for the town.

“It helps the community a lot and shows that we care about Chadron and want to help out,” said Dominic Badura, 19, freshman of Omaha.

“I think it’s really great CSC gives the opportunity to help Chadron,” said Jennifer Scherbarth, 19, sophomore of Hay Springs.

“I thought the event went really well, I worked with students from a couple of college campus ministries,” said former CSC student and jobsite leader Sam Parker, who serves as a START adviser for CSC. “It was very encouraging to see our team so joyful and willing to help out.”

Branson admitted that the church was finally able to finish removing the rocks thanks to The Big Event.

At Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, five volunteers—Dakota Gellner, 22, senior of Gering; Brittany Hoagland, 23, senior of Rushville; Chaona Radtke, 20, sophomore of Sidney, Kylee Giles, 20, sophomore of Gordon, and Shayla Dockweiler, 20, sophomore of Oconto­—helped Fred McCarthy, State Forester for the University of Nebraska, and Barbara McCarthy, seventh grade math teacher at Chadron Middle School, clean up around the church.

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Volunteers prepare frozen treats for Crest view Care Center residents, Saturday during The Big Event.

“It’s so nice to have you students come and help us clean up the community,” Barbara McCarthy said.

“Who wants to use the chain saw?” joked Fred McCarthy while the crew rested.

The Volunteers work consisted of cleaning up the parking lot of the church, shoveling rocks, sweeping the sidewalk around the church, moving mulch, tending to the plants and flowers, trimming hedges and trees, and raking.

“I love volunteering, and supporting the community,” Radtke said. “I get to make good old Chadron look better, which is a lot of fun.”

Afterward the crew and the McCarthy’s congregated inside eh church for cookies and juice.

The Social Work Club went to Crest View Care Center to volunteer time at this year’s edition of The Big Event.

The students prepared picnic tables and set out chairs while the residents ate their lunch inside. When the Crest View Care Center residents finished eating around 2 p.m., they made their way to the front lawn to enjoy some ice cream and beautiful weather.

The group split up the work of making the sundaes and root beer floats and delivering the treats to the residents. Not all the residents came outside, so a few students delivered ice cream to them inside.

About 20 volunteers spent the afternoon distributing ice cream and talking with the senior residents. The jobsite leader at Crest View Care Center was Savannah Hurtado, 21, junior of Boulder, Colorado, who made sure things went smoothly throughout the afternoon.

CSC’s Director of Social Work Richard Kenney said he and

his group of students have volunteered at Crest View Care Center for five years, which means they have been there every year since The Big Event began at CSC. He said it was the “perfect day for this event.”

The residents seemed to enjoy the company for a few hours as they shared stories with the students during the ice cream social.

The feelings were mutual, the volunteers and the residents ended the afternoon feeling good about The Big Event, and happy they participated.

Many people had differing reasons for joining The Big Event volunteers list, but the fact remains that Chadron benefited from the hard work from everyone who was involved with The Big Event and made a lot of Chadron residents happy and proud.

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CSC basketball teams repaint benches at the Dawes County Historical Society Museum Jordyn Hulinsky & Torri Brumbaugh Managing Editor & Reporter

Swapping buckets

CSC sports teams have a history of participating in The Big Event, and this year was no different for the men’s and women’s basketball teams and dance team.

The women’s basketball team went to the Dawes County Historical Society south of Chadron to scrape paint off benches, repaint the benches, and remove weeds and leaves from gardens, among other tasks.

Linda Rotness, of Chadron, is on the board of directors for the Historical Society and said that the Historical Society is volunteer-ran but most of the volunteers are retired.

“It’s not always easy to get people to do this kind of stuff,” Rotness said. “It’s great to have young people out here to help.”

Head Women’s Basketball Coach Janet Raymer said that the team was assigned to this location and was happy with the placement.

All eight of the eligible players helped with the event, and a former player was also helping, Raymer said.

“It’s good to give back,” Raymer said. “We’ve been wanting to do more of this type of thing (serving) anyway so it was a good opporWe’ve been wanting tunity for us. We to do more of this want to do more of type of thing (servthis in the fall, just on a small scale. ing) anyway so it was The Big Event has a good opportunity inspired us.”

Raymer said for us. the team has Janet Raymer helped with The Head Women’s Basketball Coach Big Event all the years she has been working with the team and she thinks they helped before that too.

The men’s basketball team also served.

Head Men’s Basketball Coach Houston Reed said the team has helped with other volunteer projects this year.

“We helped with the Closer to Home project, the Catholic Church Thanksgiving meal this year, and the after school program at the middle school and elementary school. We try to give back all year long,” Reed said.

The men’s team worked at the home of Debra Ainslie, of Chadron, weeding a patch of her yard.

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Kalli Feddersen, 20, junior of Laramie, Wyoming, paints a bench Saturday at the Dawes County Historical Society Museum during of The Big Event.

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Photo by Jordyn Hulinsky

ABOVE: Vonsinh Sayaloune, 19, sophomore of Chadron, picks up leaves and weeds from a Chadron resident’s home Saturday during The Big Event.

RIGHT: Michael Johnson, 19, freshman of Nassau, Bahamas, cleans up dirt from the side of the road at a Chadron resident’s house Saturday during The Big Event.

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“I signed up to have help with this because last year this project took me 11.5 hours alone,” Ainslie said.

Both teams kept the atmosphere light and fun, singing and playing music while they worked.

The dance team also got involved in the giving-back action.

“Fantastic!” is all community member Glen Kotschwar could think of to say as he hosted the Eagle Dance Team’s jobsite at the United Methodist Church.

Coordinator of Admissions Services Erin Heide, her husband, and 2-yearold daughter helped lead the Eagle Dance team.

The team of volunteers took in the sun while helping Kotschwar clean the church’s yard, take down a basketball hoop, and trim some hedges.

“I have been a part of The Big Event for three years now,” co-captain of the Eagle Dance Team, Courtney McClenahan, 21, junior of Grant, said. “My favorite site I have been at is outside of town where we helped a lady get her yard ready for a graduation party. The Big Event is a great thing for both CSC and Chadron. It is great to give back to the community.”

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In 2013: Tess Clemetson, senior of Riverton, Wyoming, paints a wall at Birthright of Chadron’s office Saturday, April 20, 2013, during the first annual The Big Event.

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File photo by Teri Robinson

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In 2015: Eddie Puga, 21, freshman of Los Angeles, cleans The Chadron Record’s storage unit Saturday, April 25, 2015, during the third annual The Big Event.

RIGHT: In 2014: Jacob Rissler, junior of Gillette, Wyoming, throws fallen logs up a hill at the Museum of the Fur Trade Saturday, April 26, 2014, during the second annual The Big Event.

File photo by Justine Stone

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n 2016: Director of College Relations and obsite leader Alex Helmbrecht carries a railroad tie to the pile while cleaning up the Cowboy Trail Saturday, April 23, 2016, during the fourth annual The Big Event.

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BIG years In 2017: Caitlin Gustafson, left, 20, sophomore of Seward, hands Dominic Badura,19, freshman of Omaha, a rock Saturday as part of the fifth annual The Big Event. photo by Jordyn Hulinsky

design & story by JORDYN HULINSKY

Five is the magic number.

Nearly 550 volunteers participated at nearly 55 jobsites during the fifth annual The Big Event Saturday.

The Big Event is a one-day, student-based community service day. The event started at Texas A&M University, College Station, in 1982. Shaunda French, communication and social sciences associate professor, brought TBE to CSC in 2013.

In 2013, about eight TBE staff members convinced nearly 300 CSC students to give back to the Chadron community.

“When I interviewed for my faculty position in 2011, I had just helped the University of Southern Mississippi start its Big Event,” French said. “I enjoyed implementing The Big Event there and felt it is something every academia institution needs.”

French has been noted for her passion for the event via staff members who have worked with her through the years.

“Her passion is a huge factor in regards to the success of The Big Event,” Justy Bullington, CSC alumna and former staff member of The Big Event, said.

Bullington was part of the first staff who brought TBE to campus. She has worked as an advertising coordinator, jobsite leader and volunteer through the years, and was unable to participate this year having moved away from Chadron.

“Working with Dr. French on TBE has been an amazing experience,” Megan O’Leary, The Big Event 2017 graduate assistant, said.

“It has been rewarding to work with someone who cares greatly about our community and

is passionate about giving back.”

The event started relatively small with 300 volunteers, 15 jobsites, and about 2 hours of work; since, it has reached a peak number of 650 volunteers in 2014, 80 jobsites in 2015, and 4.5 hours of work in 2014.

“My first year can be described as ‘literally not having a clue what I was doing,’” Bullington said. “Now, the team is so knowledgeable and beyond dedicated and passionate toward the cause. It is truly heartbreaking to miss out on such a positive and memorable experience, but it is beyond humbling to see the legacy, not only continue, but to grow and develop.”

Sam Parker, current academic adviser in the START Office, was also part of the first TBE staff.

“I feel the event has turned from something obscure on campus to a well-known CSC tradition,” Parker said. “Today, The Big Event seems to be known among students.”

“Over the past five years, The Big Event has evolved in so many different ways,” French said. “Put simply, I believe each year The Big Event improves and becomes more organized. However, that being said, each year brings its unique challenges.

“When you have more than 50 jobsites and more than 500 volunteers, you’re going to have issues,” French said. “However, I truly believe this was our most efficient and effective to date.”

The Big Event has certainly grown through the years, but the main idea has stayed the same: serve the community that serves CSC. “One of our biggest goals when initiating The Big Event on CSC’s campus was to build a tradition and bridge the gap between the campus and the community,” Bullington said. “I am so proud of the hard work various people put into making The Big Event successful and hope students, faculty, staff, administration and community members continue to be a part of the event in any capacity.

“It is life-changing, whether you know it or not!” Bullington said.

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Laken Kuenzel, 22, senior, of Gillette, Wyoming, scrapes paint from the side of a shed at the Bill Dowling American Legion Post 12.

Photo by Kira Fish

Community Collaboration Kira Fish, Torri Brumbaugh, & Zane Hesting Reporters

Photo by Kira Fish

Carly Slaght, left, 20, junior of Scottsbluff, and Ashley Goad, 19, sophomore of Pueblo, Colorado, scrape paint off sheds at the Bill Dowling American Legion Post 12 Saturday during The Big Event.

Volunteers working as part of CSC’s fifth The Big Event worked on various projects around the Chadron community Saturday.

Seven people and one jobsite leader renovated a few storage sheds outside of the Bill Dowling American Legion Post 12. Volunteers scraped off paint and painted the previously red-and-white sheds, located a few feet from the American Legion Post’s main building.

Ashley Goad, 19, sophomore of Pueblo, Colorado; Carly Slaght, 20, junior of Scottsbluff; Leah Guerrero, 19, freshman of Greeley, Colorado; Rachel Guerrero, 16, high school student of Greeley, Colorado; Laken Kuenzel, 22, senior of Gillette, Wyoming; Trysha Brierly, 16, of Chadron, the daughter of Education Instructor Robin Brierly, who was also part of the group; and Mikaela Franzen, 19, freshman of Gurley, took on the task.

According to Vicki Kotschwar, the president of the post’s American Legion Auxiliary, the sheds are used to house equipment, such as wheelchairs that the American Legion post rents out. She said she was happy that the buildings were being repainted, since they are visible during the Bands on Bordeaux summer concert events.

Kotschwar says she was the one who filled out the necessary form for their jobsite to become part of The Big Event.

Expressing her admiration for The Big Event and how it gives

CSC students a way to give back to the local community, she said the other members of the post’s American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary were enthusiastic about hosting a jobsite for The Big Event.

At a different location, two neighbors teamed up to create one jobsite for volunteers.

Community members, Amy Leija and Melody Herbert, took advantage of the beautiful weather Saturday while The Big Event volunteers powered through their yard work on King Street.

“It’s amazing,” Leija said. “Just to know that so much is getting done takes weight off of my shoulders. In a few hours, we’re doing stuff that I’ve wanted to get done for five years.”

A few of the tasks volunteers were asked to do were to get rid of weeds, trim hedges, and stain fences.

Freshman Laura Larsen, 19, of Kearney, described her task as “removing all the dead stuff from the yard.”

The college students were joined by a few non-traditional volunteers, including Physical and Life Science Associate Professor Wendy Jamison and her two daughters.

Fourth grader Hannah Jamison, 10, diligently pulled weeds from Leija’s yard.

“My favorite thing about working The Big Event is the Subway,” Hannah Jamison said.

In another location, long-time Chadron resident Janet Hartman’s yard was abuzz with volunteers. Hartman works in the career and academic planning services department at CSC; this was her first year as a host site for The Big Event. please see COMMUNITY page 15

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Students and faculty of the Alumni Club and Sigma Tau Delta Club flushed gutters, mowed, cleaned rock beds, labeled flower gardens, and scraped paint. All this was done in a couple of hours, and Hartman capped off the day by serving everyone fresh brownies and iced tea in her back yard.

“I live by myself, and I never would have gotten all this done alone,” Hartman said. “The town wouldn’t be the same without the college, it’s good for the economy,” Hartman said. “I like when students are around; brings the town to life.”

It’s these subtle reminders that reiterate the harmonizing effects of The Big Event. Students and faculty can reciprocate care and service to the community.

Students who volunteered at the Hartman site understand the importance of community connections as well.

“In college it is easy to stay within the bubble of campus, and not realize the campus is part of a larger community,” Jessica Hanks, 20, sophomore of Kimball, said.

“The Big Event allows students to see this, and gives them the opportunity to say thank you through service. One, it is awesome to get out and be a part of something bigger than myself.

Two, cleaning gutters is not as easy as it looks.”

The college and community can bond within service, but students within clubs are also allowed to form more meaningful connections.

“I think it was a great bonding experience for the club because we learned a lot about each other,” Rachel Dowling, 20, junior of Hampton, said. “I love this city so much. The Big Event inspires me to continue to help put smiles on people’s faces when something gets accomplished that they struggled with by themselves.”

The college and community became one among the lilacs in full bloom on Saturday, and the quality of service delivered will hopefully inspire more years of The Big Event. In the meantime, students can prepare for finals with a sense of accomplishment permeating from the past weekend.

Eagle Dance Team members McKenna Jones, left, 20, sophomore of Louisville, and Kassey Wetovick, 19, freshman of Wood River, trimmed hedges Saturday at the United Methodist Church for The Big Event.

Photos by Torri Brumbaugh

ABOVE: During CSC’s fifth annual The Big Event, Morgan Johnston, left, 18, freshman of Alliance, and Joel Schroeder, 19, freshman of Paxton, help with yard work Saturday afternoon.

LEFT: Fourth grader Hannah Jamison, left, of Chadron, watches her mom, Physical and Life Sciences Associate Professor Wendy Jamison, dig up weeds Saturday at the fifth annual The Big Event.

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TBE ventures out of town Angie Webb & Melanie Nelson

Photo by Melanie Nelson

Taylor Allison, 21, senior of Gordon, digs out weeds from a flower bed Saturday at Camp Norwesca for The Big Event.

Vanessa Sawyers, 19, freshman of Alliance, shovels brush Saturday during The Big Event at Camp Norwesca.

Photo by Justine Stone

three groups to cover the workload. Some were weeding flowerbeds, building a new flowerbed, Advertising Director & News Editor and scraping old paint off the lodge. Volunteers The Big Event, a community-service event from local churches were clearing brush, and at Chadron State College, came to Chadron for the students also helped throw the branches in the fifth straight year Saturday afternoon. a truck to be hauled away.

There were 544 volunteers stationed The cross country team started a tradition across 54 jobsites in the Chadron area. Vol- of camping there as a team-builder each fall unteers received a free T-shirt and a compli- before school starts, according to Cross Counmentary meal from Subway before being sent try Assistant Coach Sarah Townsend, 22, gradto their jobsites. uate student of Douglas, Wyoming.

The Child Development Center, a return“It’s cool that we are stationed here for The ing jobsite, had many activities for volunteers. Big Event,” Townsend said. “We’ve come out Child Development Center Teacher Kevin Bo- here for camp, so it’s nice to give back.” gus oversaw the site.

Camp Norwesca is a retreat run by the According to Bogus, the CDC was pre- Great Plains Conference of the United Methparing for the summer, when the kids will be odist Church. It is located off Highway 385, outside more. He requested help with general surrounded by Chadron State Park and the Necleanup and improvements to the playground, braska National Forest. as well as painting. Volunteers also assisted Every summer, the camp hosts youth and with preparing an outdoor painting center for adults for a variety of programs. The camp ofthe kids, which fers swimming, needed painthiking, games, ed and Plexiand more, supThis is a total lifesaver. glas installed. plemented with Sigma Delworship time, We’d be in a world of hurt ta Nu and according to its if we didn’t have these three families website. that were part According to kids here today. of the CDC Bartels, hail and helped with wind damaged Delila Bartels the project. trees and flowCamp Norwesca Office Administrator Bogus said ers during last that volunteers week’s storm, from other and needed the jobsites came assistance that to the CDC to assist with later activities. Bogus The Big Event provides. said that supplies needed for the projects were “This is a total lifesaver,” Bartels said. “We’d paid for by the CDC’s annual pie fundraiser. be in a world of hurt if we didn’t have these kids Outside of town, several jobsites also par- here today.” ticipated in The Big Event.

Down Highway 385 past Chadron State At Chadron State Park, Xi Delta Zeta paint- Park, Phi Beta Lambda assisted Terri Foppe ed picnic tables and did yard work around the at her residence with ground work around campgrounds as part of preparation for camp- new Cedar trees, clearing the yard of debris, ing season. There were 17 volunteers, spread and gathering pre-cut firewood for transport across the entire campgrounds. Gregg Gal- and storage. Danielle Lecher, market develbraith, park superintendent, coordinated the opment director at CSC, led 10 volunteers at jobsite and helped deliver paint to the students the jobsite. who ran out.

Off Goffena Road, just outside Chadron, At Camp Norwesca, Delila Bartels, office Connie Moore, owner of the residence, had administrator, oversaw the cross country four volunteers pick up sticks that had blown team volunteers. off trees in the wind, clearing the land for About 20 team members were split into mowing and other activities.

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Zach Doffin, left, 22, senior of Stanton, and Levi Avila, 21, junior of Mitchell, landscape Saturday during The Big Event at Camp Norwesca.

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Clearing

paths Justine Stone Lifestyles Editor

Photo by Justine Stone

National Forest Service Pine Ridge Recreation Specialist Mike Watts chops up a fallen tree Saturday during The Big Event at Spotted Tail Loop Trail.

In association with the Northwest Nebraska Trails Association and the National Forest Service, volunteers from Chadron State’s fifth annual The Big Event began clearing hiking trails south of Chadron.

After a quick safety lesson from National Forest Service Pine Ridge Recreation Specialist Mike Watts, eight student volunteers, two jobsite leaders, and a couple of National Forest Service employees, cleared the hiking trail of fallen trees, stumps, debris, and built water bars along the trail. The fallen trees and debris were a result, in part, of the July 2006 fire in the Spotted Tail Loop Trail area.

The volunteers were split into two groups; one cleared the Spotted Tail Loop Trail and constructed water bars and the other built water bars along another trail in the area. In total, the groups covered about 5 miles of trails.

Watts demonstrated how to build the water bars then showed the volunteers where to build them along the trail. The water bars are essentially diagonal bars that guide the water off the trails to prevent erosion. In addition to the water bars constructed with dirt, there were water bars made of wood that were already in place on the trail that the volunteers cleaned up.

Watts also used a chainsaw to cut fallen trees into smaller pieces and cut branches off the trees so the volunteers could move them off the trail.

Volunteers used tools called McLeods, Pulaskis, and Crows Feet, to remove debris and build the water bars.

The McLeod is a heavy-duty rake with a blade on the other side that was used to

TBE volunteers clean up Spotted Tail Loop Trail

clear debris and to build water bars.

The Pulaski is a tool that looks like an ax on one side and another sharp cutting tool on the other side. The Pulaski was used to chop trunks or other debris out of the ground to remove it from the trail.

The Crows Foot is a tool similar to the McLeod but it only has two prongs on one side with a flat bottom. The Crows Foot tool was also used to clear debris and build water bars.

The Northwest Nebraska Trails Association was founded in January. The Spotted Tail Loop Trail cleanup was one of the group’s first projects, but it did not include all of the association’s members, according to jobsite leader Brittany Helmbrecht, who is a member of the association. The association’s mission statement is: “The purpose of the NNTA is to develop, enhance, maintain and promote public non-motorized recreational trails in northwest Nebraska.”

“There was a need to get trails maintained and eventually created for recreational activities in the area,” Helmbrecht said. “One of the big goals is to get the Cowboy Trail from Sheridan County into Chadron and Dawes County.”

During The Big Event 2016, volunteers cleared old railroad ties and other debris from the Cowboy Trail east of Chadron to begin the rail-to-trail conversion project.

Once finished, the Cowboy Trail, running 321 miles from Chadron to Norfolk, will be the longest rail-to-trail conversion in the United States.

If students are seeking more information about the Northwest Nebraska Trails Association or are interested in joining the association, they should contact Helmbrecht at bhelmbrecht@csc.edu or search “Northwest Nebraska Trails Association” on Facebook for information and meeting times and locations.