Some dancers cried, while others embraced. But there was a smile on every dancer's face even if they couldn't keep their eyes open or stay balanced on their aching feet. The 1994 Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon was finally over.

Overall Chairman Chip Baird wrapped up the 22nd annual dance marathon by reading a poem someone handed to him this weekend that told why 540 people would dance for 48 hours straight.

"I saw some people in a lot of pain this weekend," Baird said after reading the poem to the crowd in the White Building. "I saw one group of people with smiles all weekend long and those were the Four Diamonds children."

For the third year in a row, the dance marathon raised more than $1 million for the Four Diamonds Fund of the University's Hershey Medical Center -- this year $1,210,796. The total last year was $125,376 more than the total this year.

For the 11th consecutive year, Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity, 328 E. Fairmount Ave., and Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority, 101 Hibbs, were the top Greek organization money-raisers. Phi Gamma Nu fraternity raised the top dollar amount for the independent student organization category.

Robby Miller, president of Alpha Sigma Phi, refused to comment. Tony Hartman, president of Phi Gamma Nu fraternity, credited his organization's success to a more organized effort and focused goals.

"We only had one thing in mind -- it's all for the kids," Hartman said, adding the fraternity was inspired by its sponsor family.

Sarah Brown McAskill, assistant director of development at the medical center, was pleased with the total.

"The fact that it's the third year in a row breaking one million, it's fantastic," McAskill said. "I'm glad it's over for the dancers but it's a bittersweet feeling."

With three hours to go, tired, teary-eyed dancers were motivated to finish the marathon when the Four Diamonds Fund families took the stage.

Craig Cline, a 5-year-old cancer patient, expressed most of the families' sentiments.

"You guys, I love you very much," said Cline of Shippensburg. "And you guys, 'We are Penn State.' "

And when rules and regulations committee Chairman Brian Ray announced the 47th hour of the dance marathon, dancers applauded. Upon hearing the beginning beats of the line-dance song they heard all weekend long, Knocking On Your Door by Erasure, the floor shook with excitement.

The last hour consisted of motivating songs. The dancers finished the marathon with as much enthusiasm as they began, doing energetic kicklines and swaying arm-in-arm to American Pie, dancers ignored their pain as the 48 hours ended.

Ron Kelly, a dancer for Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, 408 E. Fairmount Ave., was excited as the last hour started. Kelly, who this year was dancing with a separated shoulder, said this year was more meaningful than the past three years he danced. The last hour seems more significant and less blissful than past years, Kelly said.

But dancers forgot their physical pain and began to think about the kids. "Everything is pretty much numb at this point," Kelly said, adding that his physical pain was too small to worry about.

Paul Hagin, a dancer for the South Halls Residents Association, was bouncing from leg to leg to keep his circulation going and stay awake.

"I stopped hurting about 12 hours ago," he said. "This is the only chance I've got."

Harriet Robinson of Doylestown traveled to support her daughter Chris, a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority, 108 Cross.

"I thought it was wonderful that she was dancing, but I was a little concerned," Robinson said, adding that when she was a member of the same sorority here, the size of the philanthropies didn't compare to the marathon.