'The Big Event' is Now Big Enough for Two Laredo Institutions

Through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) by Laredo’s maroon-and-silver and green-and-gold institutions of higher education this week, Laredo College and Texas A&M International University will partner to make The Big Event even greater.

This partnership will see both institutions co-hosting The Big Event, an annual community service day, with the goal of getting more students from our area out and about helping the community and bonding in the spirit of service. To this end, the MOA will ensure that every community service hour earned by LC and TAMIU students is recognized by both institutions. The opportunity to work on other joint community service projects, like Make A Difference Day, is also articulated.

TAMIU Interim President Juan J. Castillo said the partnership is a natural extension of the institutions’ shared mission and paves the way for a collaborative future focused on service.

“This MOA provides us with a foundation to further our shared mission of higher education, our commitment to service and to making a difference in the community we both so proudly serve.  When we welcomed LC students to our 15^thAnnual The Big Event in March, it was truly inspiring to watch proud students in maroon and silver and green and gold working hand in hand on a variety of beautification projects. Historically, LC is the primary source of student transfers to TAMIU and engagement opportunities like The Big Event encourage and help transfer students build shared community and continue their progress,” Castillo said.

To help facilitate this, students can expect their institutions to implement a process for verifying and transferring service hours. Furthermore, LC and TAMIU will collaborate to share best practices, strengthening service-learning assessment, training and recognition across both campuses.

“I believe deeply in our students’ commitment to service,” Laredo College President Dr. Minita Ramírez said, “Whether at LC or TAMIU, students with a passion for giving back, leading with purpose and building a stronger future are thriving. The Big Event is a shining example of how they’re turning that passion into action—and I’m proud to see both institutions joining forces to expand this impactful initiative.”

Since 2010, The Big Event has been a cherished tradition among TAMIU students and alumni. This student-driven community service initiative allows participants to engage in meaningful service projects. TAMIU organizers took their inspiration from Texas A&M University in College Station, the founding home of The Big Event.

For the first time this year, LC and TAMIU joined forces and made a significant impact in the local community, generating 16,450 hours of community service with an estimated monetary impact of $523,110.

The goal of this agreement is to explore future opportunities for joint service-learning initiatives, providing students with leadership experiences and empowering them to become active contributors to our community. 

See a highlight reel of the historic shared LC-TAMIU engagement in the 2025 The Big Event this past March here.