Penn State New Kensington THON dancers Brooke Churma, left, and Alex Pedder, center, along with Theresa Bonk, director of student affairs, right, on the floor of the Bryce Jordan Center.
Brooke Churma and
Alex Pedder
raised funds to the tune of
‘fourth-best in campus history’
UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- The THON committee at Penn State New Kensington, headed by sophomore Jadyn Perry and junior Lea Long, raised $28,000 for the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) that benefits the Four Diamonds Fund and the fight against pediatric cancer. The total is the fourth-best in campus history.
“This year’s THON group was amazing,” said Lauren Blum, assistant to the director of student affairs and adviser to the THON committee. “We are so proud of everyone’s hard work and dedication to such a great cause, and they really showcased our campus well.”
The two New Kensington campus student dancers – Brooke Churma of Lower Burrell and Alex Pedder of Greensburg -- joined more than 700 dancers from across the University for the 46-hour event, Feb. 20 to 22, in the Bryce Jordan Center at Penn State University Park.
The Four Diamonds Fund serves a dual role -- supporting families financially during treatment and funding cancer research. The children and families joined the dancers on the floor, playing games and pulling pranks.
The New Kensington dancers did not go at it alone. The University Park THON committee assigned each dancer a moraler who attended to their needs during the marathon. Be it food, drink, or inspiration, the moraler's responsibility is to help the dancers get through the event. In addition, a New Kensington posse was on the floor and in the stands, ready to cheer on the campus hoofers and provide moral support.
In the past five years, the New Kensington THON committee has collected nearly $200,000. Since 2002, campus students have raised $300,000. Kelly Sieja, who earned a bachelor’s degree in applied psychology, chaired the committee that set the record of $53,000 in 2011. The second-best total, $50,000, was secured a year later under the direction of Lauren Richards, an alumna of the campus’ Information Sciences and Technology program.
Overall, THON breached the $13 million mark for the second consecutive year, raising $13,026,653 for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital. Researchers at the hospital are working to find better treatments and, ultimately, cures for forms of cancer that afflict children. Approximately 100 new families receive support each year.
First held in 1973, THON has partnered with the Four Diamonds Fund since 1977 and in that time has raised nearly $128 million FTK -- "For The Kids." More than 15,000 students participated in making THON 2015 happen, including the thousands of students who helped them raise funds throughout the year and thousands more who volunteered during THON weekend to boost dancers' morale, kept them fed and entertained, made sure they stayed safe and shared the THON experience around the world via streaming video.
For more on THON, visit http://www.thon.org/
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Brooke Churma, front, gets a disembodied high five while she and fellow Penn State New Kensington THON dancer, Alex Pedder, back, wait to get into the Bryce Jordan Center for the start of THON 2015.
CAMPUS THON HISTORY
2000-present
YEAR, TOTAL, CHAIR(S), DANCERS
2015: $28,000 Jadlyn Perry and Lea Long, Brooke Churma and Alex Pedder
2014: $24,000, Melissa Gabrielli, Mike Cavazza, Mitch Hastings, Melissa Gabrielli
2013: $43,000, Kelsie Nury, Aric Fellers, Leigh Hastings, Courtney Rockwell, Bill Staniszewski
2012: $50,467, Lauren Richards, Joe Mandak, Erin Prager, Andrew Holodnik, Kelsie Nury
2011: $52,392, Kelly Sieja, Nicole Thoma, Deanna Mazur, Megan Pulaski, Kiki Wilkinson
2010: $23,000, Deanna Mazur, Sarah Calligan, Megan Karl
2009: $8,700, Deanna Mazur, Erika Mazur, Kyle Tomer
2008: $5,000, Dani Bonura, Samantha Smith, Heather Schweikert
2007: $7,000 Shayne Brown and Alan Wiley, Dani Bonura, Missy Franklin, Ed Newell, Donna Stewart
2006: $10,000, Karen Mayer and Danica Myers, Robert Dietz, John Lowery
2005: $12,000, Karen Mayer, Jamie Love, Crystal Gilliland, Joe Hudeck, Alicia Fitzgerald
2004: $12,000, Mike Kelley and April Sheets, Greg Schubert, Andrew Presutti, Crystal Gilliland, Jayme Campana
2003: $8,600, Rich Moser, Jim Dykes, Mike Kelly, Rich Moser, April Sheats
2002: $9,300, Vera Spina, Rich Moser, Tim Burg
2001: $3,000
2000: $3,000