The days (and nights) of dancing and boosting morale at THON might be over for these Penn State graduates, but what they learned sticks with them. Here is a look at what some recent grads took away from their days with the Penn State Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.
Mary Ludwikowski
"THON helped me to understand how hardship can both take its toll and strengthen a family. It forced me to redefine the words 'determination' and 'love.' I found inspiration in both small children and parents alike, and can only hope that we, as a student body, have as much of a positive impact on these families as they have on us. THON has made me a better person, and I can never fully... Read more ›
Lindsay Cryer
"Not only did THON provide me the opportunity to serve an amazing cause and meet friends along the way, but it prepped me for the real world in ways I didn't know at the time. It showed me the different facets of the non-profit industry — donor care, finances, logistics — that I wouldn't have otherwise seen. Now that I work in non-profit event-planning, I implement the work of every THON... Read more ›
Janine Patton
"THON has given me so much, has provided me with incredible opportunities and experiences, and has shown me what it means to form a family among complete strangers. To say THON helped me grow and become a better person would be a massive understatement. THON helped me to realize who I really am and what my true passions are. It opened the door to opportunities I didn't know existed, and... Read more ›
Stephanie and Samantha Shoffner
"I learned a lot from being on family relations and morale, but mostly what I try to carry with me daily is selflessness. As a moraler, during our shifts we were never allowed to complain, sit, lean, ask for anything for ourselves, eat in front of a dancer or family, or even indicate to someone that they looked anything but fantastic. My job as both a moraler and a family relations captain was... Read more ›
Samantha and Stephanie Shoffner
"On morale, I was taught how to inspire someone, how to motivate and how to suppress my own minor aches and pains so that the kids and the dancers can feel the strongest. Inspiration is something I carry with me now, in my job as a music teacher for middle school students in Lancaster County. Focusing on others and their well-being is something I do everyday. Looking back on my experiences at... Read more ›
Maxine Parmer
"My experiences with THON have helped make me the nurse I am today. As a pediatric hematology/oncology nurse at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C., I am at the forefront of the fight against pediatric cancer. I see day to day exactly what these kids and these families go through while in the hospital. I carry each family’s story I’ve heard with me as I practice with... Read more ›
Will Martin Thon
"Through THON, I gained the skills to think critically and consider the important stakeholders when making decisions. I learned the phrase "thank you" goes a long way and can never be used too much. Most importantly, I learned what it means to work long days and nights for a cause bigger than myself. The Four Diamonds families and children facing pediatric cancer were the motivation and the... Read more ›
