UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

UT Tyler Joins Local Colleges to Host Community-wide Service Day

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April 26, 2019

Media Contact: Beverley Golden
Senior Director of Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.566.7303

The University of Texas at Tyler has partnered with Tyler Junior College and Texas College to host The East Texas Big Event, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 27 on the square in downtown Tyler.

The East Texas Big Event is a family-friendly day of service and celebration led by the students of UT Tyler, TJC and Texas College, and is open to the entire East Texas community.

This is the third year UT Tyler has hosted The Big Event, but the first time it's expanded its reach and partnered with other local colleges.

"This event is a great way for our students to come together with other students and community members to give back and improve the quality of life in our communities," said Ona Tolliver, UT Tyler vice president for student success. "Our hope is to continue to get other colleges, universities, and middle and high schools in the region to host this event simultaneously in their communities, and really impact East Texas as a whole."

Check-in begins at 8 a.m. with the service projects starting at 9 a.m. Parking will be available in the parking garage on South Broadway.

Some of the service projects include helping revitalize the downtown square and a park in north Tyler through painting and landscaping, as well as helping at the East Texas Food Bank. After the service projects are finished around noon, there will be a celebration on the square with live music, free food, games and more.

The East Texas Big Event has also partnered with the 7th Annual Maker Faire at Discovery Science Place as an opportunity for participants to volunteer. Maker Faire is a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness. It
gathers together tech enthusiasts, crafters, educators, tinkerers, artisans, hobbyists, engineers, science clubs, students and commercial exhibitors. The Discovery Science Place, its annex and parking lots are transformed for this day-long event.

"This event is a great opportunity for students from all three colleges to come together and give back to the community that supports all of us so well. With multiple projects for various organizations, the students and volunteers have a broad scope of service opportunities, which enables anyone to get involved," said Lauren Tyler, TJC director of student life.

This event is in conjunction with a larger day of service movement. Now, several higher education institutions participate across the nation as a way of saying "thank you" to the communities in which they reside.

A member of the prestigious UT System, The University of Texas at Tyler focuses on student success and innovative research in the more than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered. With more than 10,000 students, UT Tyler has facilities in Tyler, Longview, Palestine and Houston.