Each February the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, better known as THON, fills the Bryce Jordan Center at University Park with 15,000 people for 46 hours. Last year the event raised more than $13 million to benefit the families of children with cancer. These are some of their stories.
More multimedia stories from THON
Rallying through Rejection
Giuseppe Parente geared his entire senior year towards being chosen to represent the Penn State Thespians as one of their dancers in THON 2015. That dream was cut short when seniors Hailey Rohn and Jess Goble were chosen over him, but he finds comfort in the fact that two of his closest friends are representing their organization.
~ By Kelli Boyle
Dancer report: Taylor Milano / Sunday
Taylor Milano is dancing for Foto and filing video reports about her experience from the floor of the Bryce Jordan Center. As the band Go-Go Gadget takes the stage, she realizes she only has an hour to go.
~ By Taylor Milano
Branch campus transfer experiences her first THON
Junior Kaycee Corcoran is in the midst of her second semester at University Park. This weekend she had the chance to experience THON personally for the first time. Through her extracurricular club, the Student Philanthropy Council, she was able to access a pass that would allow her to enter the floor level of the event. However, after arriving at THON, she realized the experience was a bit too overwhelming for her and decided, after a short stay, to watch the rest of the event from home.
~ by Astrid Diaz
Final hours on the dance floor
Amanda Hendrix is a dancer for THON 2015. She has been involved with THON since her freshman year at Penn State after hearing about it through her softball team. She has known people who have died from cancer and says it was a no brainer for her to get involved with the organization when she got to Penn State.
~ by James Hirsch
First in, Last Out
Anna Dubiansky speaks about her years on the OPPerations committee, including all of the behind-the-scenes work, the dirt, and the early arrival (and late dismissal) of the OPPerations committee.
~ by Bob Boyle
LIVE
Daniel Bolton, a former employee at WPSU, has been a part of THON for years. Last year, shooting for a webcast, he came up with the idea to incorporate an experience that is more interactive than in previous years. Since August, Bolton has been preparing for this huge event – finding talent that will help him create the best product possible.
~ by Pharaoh Williams
Preparing for the overflow THON crowd
Mara Scaliti, a senior Labor, Employment and Relations major at Penn State is apart of THON 2015 as a member of an OPP committee. OPP committee members are in charge of the set up, tear down and cleaning of the Bryce Jordan Center and now Pegula Ice Arena during THON weekend. As a committee they have one of the most labor intensive jobs THON weekend.
~ by Tori Kimberly
Carl the Conqueror
Carl the Conqueror is a character created by a student wearing a mascot costume that was donated to THON. Carl represents the heroic qualities of children battling cancer. Scott Warner, a THON 2015 Hospitality Captain, had the opportunity this weekend to be inside the Carl costume.
~ by Kristina Slacum
Dancer Notes boost morale
Penn State senior, Janelle Rushton, is on the Special Events committee for THON 2015. This year, the committee started a new project called 'Dancer Notes'. It's another way for families and friends to write messages to the dancers to keep them motivated for the 46 hours.
~ by Megan Soltis
Capturing the pride
Caity Kramer is a junior at Penn State and a member of the THON Photography Committee. As a photography committee member, Kramer is allowed access to all moments of THON and captures them to share with the rest of the community.
~ by Maddie Klebe
Dancer report: Taylor Milano / overnight Saturday
Taylor Milano is dancing for Foto and filing video reports about her experience from the floor of the Bryce Jordan Center.
~ By Taylor Milano