JOE MANDAK, ERIN PRAGER, ANDREW HOLODNIK, KELSIE NURY
TO REPRESENT CAMPUS AT ANNUAL DANCE MARTHON
“The results are in…dim the lights... here we go…these are Penn State New Kensington’s THON dancers…let’s go!”
That’s how “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest would introduce Joe Mandak, Erin Prager, Andrew Holodnik and Kelsie Nury, this year’s campus representatives at the annual Penn State Interfraternity Council/ Panhellenic Dance Marathon, affectionately known as THON.
The four terpsichoreans were chosen by an interview committee and the selections were based on participation in campus THON activities that began in September-- canning hours, meetings attended, and raising at least $1,000 apiece. In Greek mythology, Terpsichore was the muse of dancing.
They will join more than 700 Penn State students from all the campuses at the Bryce Jordan Center on Penn State's University Park campus during the 46-hour, no sitting, no sleeping marathon, Feb. 17-19. All money raised through the dance marathon directly benefit the Four Diamonds Fund at the Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital.
Mandak is senior corporate communications major from New Kensington. Prager is a senior business administration major from Natrona Heights. Holodnik is a senior administration of justice major from Penn Hills. Nury is a freshman education major from Lower Burrell.
The interview committee comprised nine members from the campus: Kevin Snider, chancellor; Tom Wilczek, advisory board; Elaine Zarichnak, nurse; Jim Shields, career services coordinator; Que Harris-Moore, student government president; Kyle Tomer, alumnus and 2009 dancer; Nicole Thoma, student and 2011 THON dancer; Lauren Richards, THON chair; and Lauren Blum, student life coordinator.
The number of dancers going to University Park from each campus is based on the amount of money raised by the campus the previous year. In 2011, New Kensington students raised $52,392, shattering the campus record of $23,000 set in 2010. Since 2002, the campus has collected more than $162,000 for the charity.
The fundraising continues with the final canning weekend, Feb. 10-12, and the THON dancers send-off, a potluck dinner at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, in the Conference Center. Non-dancers can revel in the spirit of philanthropy by purchasing apparel or making gifts online. T-shirts emblazoned with “PSNK THON” are available through Lauren Blum, student life coordinator, 724-334-6063 or ldb14@psu.edu via email. Donations can be made by visiting https://secure.imodules.com/s/1218/thon/thon.aspx?sid=1218&gid=1&pgid=671&cid=2344 online. Please be sure to designate the New Kensington campus, #75, for the credit.
For more on campus THON, contact Lauren Richards, ler5128@psu.edu or Nicki Thoma, nat5066@psu.edu via email.