Connecting students to how the Annual Fund supports core experiences at Duke, the fourth annual BIG Event welcomed more than 700 students March 19 on the Chapel Quad.
Held by the Duke Annual Fund, the BIG Event educates students about how the fund contributions support financial aid, recruit and retain faculty and provide access to undergraduate research and internship opportunities.
Despite Wednesday's cold and rain, the students snacked on popcorn, cookies and cotton candy under the blue-and-white BIG Event tent and wrote more than 100 thank you notes that were mailed to Annual Fund donors.
Students tweeted what they learned for a chance to win Duke-branded cornhole boards. "I have met amazing people working at @DukeAnnualFund so it's great to attend their #BigEvent help send #DukeForward!" tweeted Rukayat Shade.
"Events such as the BIG Event ensure students have a better understanding about the critical need for unrestricted support, how Annual Fund dollars work behind-the-scenes to ensure they have the best Duke experience possible, and why it is important that they give back as alumni," said Sharon White, assistant director of student education at the Duke Annual Fund.
See more of the social media buzz on Storify.