She doesn't like crowds and she doesn't like loud noise but that can't keep Tessa Rivera away from Thon.

"It takes her a little bit to warm up," said Cindy Rivera, Tessa's mother. "We take her in and out so that it paces her a bit better and she still enjoys it."

Tessa is nine years old and has been attending Thon since before she could walk.

"In the past four years, she has gone from a shy little girl to a not show shy, very enthusiastic, very excited little girl who lives for Thon," said Jenifer Restori, a past dancer for the Rivera family. "It's very refreshing."

Even a terrible disease couldn't stop this fervent little girl.

"She was diagnosed with Down syndrome when she was born," Cindy said.

"But she knows her stuff. When you say State College, or Penn State, Tessa replies with 'Thon.'"

The Rivera family learned about the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon while attending Hershey Medical Center for Tessa's chemotherapy.

She was diagnosed with congenital heart disease and acute myeloid leukemia in April 1994 and soon after began eight months of intensive chemotherapy.

The Riveras became involved with Thon soon after, when Sigma Nu fraternity, 340 N. Burrowes St., adopted Tessa as its Thon child.

"When things finally calmed down, all everyone talked about was 'Thon, Thon, Thon,'" Cindy said. "We were excited but we didn't know what to expect."

The first experience for the family was exciting.

"I think at first it is overwhelming," said Olivia Rivera, Tessa's older sister. "But then because everyone is so friendly you just get use to it and really like it after a while."

Another part of Thon that the Rivera family is involved with is the involvement with the siblings.

"We really like the Project Sibs," Cindy said. "It has really helped them get involved."

Project Sibs helps to include Olivia, who is 12, and Elija, who is four.

The Riveras were able to go on the tour of the creamery last year, something special for the Project Sibs, and they have also attended the Thon Carnival.

"[The dancers] include you in everything and do anything with you," Olivia said. "They just make it exciting."

Another past time for the family is the squirt gun battle that goes on the weekend of Thon.

"We always bring up water guns and [Tessa] really likes to play with them," Olivia said.

"She also likes to throw balls around."

Tessa and her family have been warm and welcoming to their dancers.

"When my parents moved out of the country around Thon last year, they warmly invited me into their home," Restori said.

"It just makes me realize how lucky I am [to have them] and that is why they are a family that almost everyone wanted to have."

Tessa is well known on the dance floor.

"She gets a lot of attention," Cindy said. "It seems that people know her pretty well up there now.

Sigma Nu has adopted the family for the last few years and Tessa has been able to warm up to the guys and now gets happy when she sees them because they are familiar territory for her, Cindy said.

"She likes to be there with all of the friends and people there," Olivia said. "They play all kinds of games with her and she just has a lot of fun."

This will be the eighth year that the Riveras attend Thon.