Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB) announced Stephen F. Austin State University’s The BIG Event was among the recipients of the 2017 Ruthe Jackson Youth Leadership Awards, which was recently announced along with KTB Youth & Educator Awards.

Each year, KTB recognizes the efforts of young people, educators, and educational institutions that promote beautification, waste reduction and litter prevention through environmental education and community activism.

The KTB Youth & Educator Awards includes the Ruthe Jackson Youth Leadership Awards, which recognizes the efforts and leadership of young people and youth-oriented organizations, as well as the Sadie Ray Graff Awards, which recognizes the efforts of educators and educational institutions who encourage youth involvement and promote the Keep Texas Beautiful mission through environmental education.

SFA’s The BIG Event promotes unity between campus and community as students come together for one day to express their gratitude through service for the support from the Nacogdoches community. Students work in teams to complete projects across Nacogdoches County as a way to say “thank you!” to the community for their support of SFA students.

As a Keep America Beautiful and KTB Affiliate, Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful (KNB) nominated SFA’s The BIG Event because of its great impact on the community. Volunteers with SFA’s The BIG Event worked with KNB to clear 330 pounds of litter from local highways, maintain the KNB tree farm, and relocate hundreds of jonquil bulbs along Banita Creek Trail.

“The BIG Event volunteers that worked on KNB projects provided such a valuable service to the community and our organization,” said Katie Blevins, KNB executive director. “They picked up roadside litter, beautified a local park trail and readied our tree farm for future tree sales and fundraising projects.”

Check out the video of SFA volunteers in action at The BIG Event here.