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Media Relations
Kansas State University
9 Anderson Hall
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-6415
media@k-state.edu

Information provided by K-State Media Relations, K-State's news service, may be reproduced without permission. The marks and names of Kansas State University are protected trademarks and may not be used in any commercial or private endeavor without the approval of the university.

Sources: Darcy Ball, darceyb@k-state.edu; Kellen Begnoche, kellenb@k-state.edu; and
Shawn Eagleburger, sge@k-state.edu
Web site: http://www.k-state.edu/greek

Friday, Oct. 24, 2008

K-STATE GREEK MEMBERS LOG MORE THAN 190 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE THROUGH B.I.G EVENT

MANHATTAN -- Greek sorority and fraternity members at Kansas State University put in more than 190 hours of community service Oct. 20 as part of K-State's B.I.G. event.

The B.I.G. event, which stands for Bring In the Greeks, is an annual day of community service in Manhattan and neighboring communities. More than 90 K-State fraternity and sorority members participated, helping out with everything from gardening to making furniture. K-State's Interfraternity and Panhellenic councils sponsor the day of service.

"In Chapman, our volunteers worked with the local school district on its efforts to recover from the June 11 tornado. In Wamego, our volunteers helped the Valley Vista Good Samaritan Center with lawn work," said Darcey Ball, senior in elementary education, Overland Park, and a B.I.G. event planner and member of the Panhellenic Council's board of directors.

"Beds were put together for soon-to-be returning soldiers by our volunteers at Fort Riley, and at the Manhattan Community Gardens, our volunteers helped to winterize the gardens," she said. "I was impressed with the turnout. Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves."

"Everyone who participated really wanted to be there," said Kellen Begnoche, senior in marketing, Moundridge, and a B.I.G. event planner and member of the Interfraternity Council's board of directors. "We were able roll up our sleeves, stand beside our neighbors and accomplish an impressive amount of work -- and we did it all in one day."

Plans will soon be under way for next year's B.I.G event, but Ball said K-State sorority and fraternity members are always active in community service.

"Fraternity and sorority members are called to service by their membership," she said. "Community service is not a one-day-a-year activity, it's a year-round activity. B.I.G. provides an opportunity for us the have a big impact, but each and every day our members take advantage of an opportunity and their desire to serve our communities. It's just what we're all about."

K-State has 24 Greek fraternities and 12 sororities and boasts a membership of around 3,200 K-State students. Both the Panhellenic and Interfraternity councils have been annually recognized by the Mid-American Greek Council Association as among the top fraternity and sorority councils in the association's 29-state Mid-America region for their performance in such areas as recruitment, risk reduction, membership education, academic achievement, community management and civic engagement.

More information about K-State's Greek system is available by contacting the office of Greek affairs at 785-532-5516.