Students gathered at various locations across campus yesterday to celebrate 100 days until the kickoff of the 2004 Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.
"Our goal for today was to raise awareness for pediatric cancer and Thon," said Fehran Frank, Thon public relations chair. "We are specifically targeting freshmen because they've been here for a few months and some still aren't quite sure what it is."
The "100 Days 'Till Thon" events spanned from the HUB-Robeson Center to East, West and Pollock Halls and the Allen Street Gates.
At the Allen Street Gates, participants handed out T-shirts, pins, stickers and fliers. Special events captain Jessica Zodtner (senior-human development and family studies) said she was there spreading public awareness.
"We're getting people excited about Thon," Zodtner said.
Thon participants in the HUB attracted interested students with dances and cheers.
"I don't know much about Thon, but I was thinking about checking out their table," Luke Palamara (junior-computer engineering) said. "I think it's something great that Penn State does."
Students also gathered in the evening at Tony's Big Easy, 129 Pugh St., to celebrate the day and help support the Four Diamonds Fund.
"I'm going out tonight to Tony's Big Easy to support the kids, to drink and to have fun," Monica Gerhart (senior-elementary education) said earlier in the day.
Students who have previously participated in Thon also came out to support this year's endeavor.
Dawn Fantasia (senior-nursing) has been involved with Thon for three years, as a dancer, on a morale committee and now on the operations committee.
Fantasia said she has aspirations of becoming a nurse and has always been interested in the Four Diamonds Fund. "100 Days 'Till Thon" has improved from last year, Fantasia said.
"They really promoted it well this year," she added.
This year Thon has partnered with the Office of the Physical Plant to help promote on-campus recycling. Organizations can register in the Thon office to participate.
"We encourage recycling to all of the organizations that participate in Thon," said Megan Collins, Thon operations chair. "We're trying to create an ongoing pattern of recycling in conjunction with everyday efforts."
There has been one fund-raising weekend so far this year, with another scheduled before semester break.
The annual Thon Family Reunion Carnival will be held Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. in the White Building. Each year, Four Diamonds families attend the event and interact with Penn State students before Thon comes in February.
