Posts filed under ‘THON’
Hooray for Hollywood
The Alumni Association's Tom Hammond '00 snapped this pic when the grand total was revealed.
Less than three weeks before THON 2012 kicks off at the Bryce Jordan Center, the LA chapter of the Alumni Association hosted an abbreviated version of the dance marathon yesterday in Hollywood. Held at the historic Avalon Theater, “Lights. Camera. Cure.” was a six-hour dance party to support the Four Diamonds Fund for pediatric cancer. The event raised a total of $37,411.40.
And because no Hollywood party would be complete without a celebrity sighting, Rosey Grier ’56 stopped by—and posed for photos on the pre-show red carpet.
Mary Murphy, associate editor
Another Unbelievable Day
I took this photo at 3 p.m. today. It’s a bunch of Penn State students gathered on the Old Main lawn to mark 100 days until the 2012 edition of THON, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. These kids and their countless hours of dedication represent much of what remains great about the University.
It’ll be a monumental challenge in the coming months to remind the world that Penn State is more than what has come out over the past five days.
The latest news—and it remains strange to type—is that in addition to the pending departure of Joe Paterno, who has announced his retirement effective at season’s end, multiple outlets are reporting University president Graham Spanier will soon step down as well. What will tomorrow bring? Not a clue.
Ryan Jones, senior editor
A Very Penn State Wedding
The bride and bridesmaids on the Old Main porch. Click to see a larger, crisper version.
We’ve written about Penn State weddings before—here, here, and here, for example—but this past weekend was the first time I was actually involved in one.
I had a bit part, really. My brother Chris was the wedding photographer, and I served more or less as assistant photographer—as well as second assistant equipment schlepper.
(Chris’ wife, Paula, was first assistant equipment schlepper; she’s been doing weddings with him for years.)
My brother has all the talent, the experience, and the gear. My role was to fill in the gaps by taking whatever candid shots seemed to present themselves.
It was a Penn State wedding through and through: Both the bride and groom—Cameron Klementik ’07 and Daniel Ertley ’07—are Penn Staters, as are the bride’s parents, Judge David Klementik ’70 and Ruth Whalley Klementik ’70, and so were many of the bridesmaids and groomsmen.
Over the course of about 12 hours, Chris shot photos at a host of campus spots: the Nittany Lion Inn, the alumni center, Old Main, the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center (where the ceremony was held), the Nittany Lion Shrine, and Beaver Stadium (where the reception was held, in the Mount Nittany Club). We were also scheduled to do shoots at the Obelisk, the Joe Paterno statue outside the stadium, and other spots, but it was rainy and we just plain ran out of time.
If that’s not Penn Statey enough for you, (more…)
THON: ‘Best All-Night Dance Party,’ Says Pittsburgh Magazine
Back when I covered Penn State sports for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, I routinely heard from readers who thought we were devoting too much space to the Nittany Lions. I always explained how many Penn State alumni live in Allegheny County, and I added that in any case, given that Penn State was only three hours away, it deserved coverage anyhow. Sometimes, the readers came around to my way of thinking.
I can’t imagine that anyone in my hometown is complaining about this, though. In its annual Best of the ’Burgh issue, Pittsburgh Magazine looks two and a half hours east (thank you, Route 22 upgrades) to name its “Best All-Night Dance Party.” That’s right, THON.
You have to scroll down here to see the full entry, which starts, “Strangely fitting that of all the ’70s dance parties, only THON survived,” and ends with this: “Only students may dance, though anyone is eligible to donate. No velvet ropes here.”
Lori Shontz, senior editor
Thoughts on My First THON
Photo by Annemarie Mountz '84
If an alien from another planet visited Penn State this weekend, earthlings sure would’ve had a hard time explaining THON.
Yesterday, I was that alien.
As the Penn Stater’s newest staff member and a State College resident for about two months, I had only a vague idea what this THON thing was all about. My co-workers cautioned that I’d have to see it to believe it, and my questions about what to expect were often answered with a pause, then a “You just have to go.” So I did.
I arrived at the Jordan Center at about 10 a.m. Sunday. With press pass in hand, I was ready to experience THON for the first time. As a friendly student escort led me through the labyrinth of hallways to the dance floor, I was given one precaution: (more…)
$9.56 Million for the Kids
Photo by Annemarie Mountz '84
This year’s edition of THON wrapped up late this afternoon in the Jordan Center with a stunning total of $9.56 million raised—blowing away last year’s total of $7.8 million (which we all thought was pretty astounding at the time). The money goes to the Four Diamonds Fund at the Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital.
You can see some photos from this year’s event at Penn State Live and at the Daily Collegian website, among others.
Huge congratulations are in order for the hundreds of Penn State students who work on THON all year long—you guys bring enormous credit to the University, and I don’t think anybody will be challenging THON’s status as the largest student-run philanthropy in the world anytime soon.
Tina Hay, editor
Follow Along During THON
This photo from Penn State Public Information shows students preparing the floor for THON. They started at 5 a.m. Friday.
Earlier today, a couple of us were trying to figure out what percentage of the student body is participating in THON, which officially gets underway at 6 p.m. Friday—in a little less than two hours. We’re not sure, but we’re guessing between a third and a half of the students at the University Park campus are involved somehow—dancers, volunteers, cheering on from the stands—and there are plenty of students from other campuses here for the big event.
And of course the THON families—children and their parents who are being helped by the Four Diamonds Fund, the reason 700 students will be dancing for 46 hours this weekend at the Bryce Jordan Center—are in town, too.
If you can’t be there, there are still plenty of ways to follow along. Here are some of the best:
The Daily Collegian’s reporters are blogging here, and the staff at StateCollege.com is doing the same thing here.
On Twitter: follow the Collegian (@dailycollegian), Onward State (@thonwardstate), and anything with the hashtag #thon2011.
And the College of Communications is again dispatching more than 150 students to cover the event, including a live webstream. You can find all of that coverage here.
Last year, THON raised more than $7.8 million for the Four Diamonds Fund. Check back at the end of the weekend for more details from this year’s event.
Lori Shontz, senior editor
Paul Levine’s Latest e-Book is “For the Kids”
Ever since my husband bought an iPad, I’ve been wanting to steal it and see how it functions as an e-book reader. I’m a newsprint and hardcover book kind of girl, but he absolutely loves the iPad Kindle app, which has the especially cool feature of reversing the type (white words on black) to make it easier on the eyes.
I’ve got the perfect opportunity now to see for myself. Paul Levine ’69 is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his first mystery novel, To Speak for the Dead, by releasing it as an e-book for $2.99—and better yet, donating all proceeds to the Four Diamonds Fund, which benefits children with cancer and their families.
Who could resist that offer? Not me.
I’d never read any of Levine’s work until (more…)
New Time-Lapse Video from THON
Recent Penn State grad Maxwell Kruger ’09 has just posted a new video of this year’s THON—a time-lapse video made up of more than 13,000 still images shot over the course of the weekend.
Maxwell did the same thing last year, but this year he tried to outdo himself—with new equipment, more photos, different angles. The result is pretty impressive.
Tina Hay, editor
Our Intern: Center Stage at THON
Oralis before her haircut
As a member of THON’s rules and regulations committee, our intern, senior Oralis Ramos is usually in the background at THON. But this year, she found herself on center stage last weekend as part of a group of students who had their hair cut and donated to Wigs for Kids. Here is her story:
I have always known that I had a half sister about my age, but my father had lost touch with her. Just over a year ago, I had an intense urge to meet her, and my father tracked her down in January 2009. Unbelievably, Emnie was scheduled to have surgery the very next day to remove a cancerous tumor. It was very emotional, and that night we talked for over an hour. She told me she was scared about the surgery, but that it was some sort of miracle that brought us together at this point and time.
Thankfully, her surgery went well, and the follow-up chemotherapy and radiation did, too. She also told me about a promise she made to herself while undergoing the treatment: If her treatment was successful and she was cured, then she would donate her hair to kids with cancer. Like me, she has had long hair all her life, and felt apprehensive, but this was something she had to do. Hearing her inspired me to want to do the same.
Oralis after her haircut
I applied to Wigs for Kids, and I was notified that I would get the great opportunity to get my hair cut during THON on stage. Saturday afternoon, I had 12 inches of my hair cut off. It was breathtaking to see the all kids and dancers looking at the stage. As a little girl I always had long hair, and I remember how fun it was to brush and style. It made me happy to know that another little girl can have that feeling back and not be self-conscious because she doesn’t look like the other kids.
After the initial cutting on stage, my hair was styled by a professional and I am now sporting a “bob” that comes down to my chin. It is definitely a different look, but I love it. Plus, looking into the crowd and seeing all the smiling faces let me know that it was 100 percent worth it.
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