Nobody thought it could be done -- the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (Thon) broke last year's record by almost $100,000.

This year, Thon raised $4,214,748.18.

"The total was amazing," Evan Jacobs, Thon overall, said. "It's a culmination of a year's worth of work."

Jacobs said the online donations helped break last year's total.

"I knew from looking at the numbers it was possible, but I knew it was going to be close," he said.

For the eleventh year in a row, Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, 321 E. Fairmount Ave., and Zeta Tau Alpha sorority took first place for the most amount of money raised by a Greek organization with $300,277.00.

Phi Gamma Nu business fraternity came in first place for the highest amount raised by an individual organization by raising $61,831.88.

Penn State Hazleton raised $33,778.74, the highest amount among the commonwealth campuses.

Spirit points, which are given to an organization when it participates in certain events like Thon blood drives, were announced and awarded 8 p.m. Friday.

For the greek organizations, Alpha Omicron Pi and Acacia, 234 Locust Lane, won first place, Phi Mu placed second and Gamma Phi Beta and Kappa Alpha, 234 E. Beaver Ave., placed third.

The non-greek spirit points winners were Gamma Sigma Sigma and Theta Delta Chi in first place, Beta Alpha Psi in second and Health and Human Development Student Council in third.

The Paternoville sign, which was created during the football season, was auctioned off to benefit Thon. According to eBay, the winning bid was $2,550.

This year, a 2006 Pontiac Vibe was raffled off with proceeds going to Thon. Kat Foley, a 2005 Penn State graduate and Thon 2005 entertainment overall, won the car after buying only one raffle ticket.

"I bought the ticket because it's for Thon, and I couldn't buy a ticket last year," she said. "I didn't expect to win -- I never win anything."

This year, the morale committee held 45 morale events -- more than last year's number of events.

Four theme hours kept the time flying past: When You Wish Upon A Star, FTK Fun Fair, Festivus for the Bestivus and Vacations All I Ever Wanted. Other smaller events, such as Sports Extravaganza, Cereal Necklace Making and Sheep Corral are 10- to 40-minute random events to keep dancers' spirits up between water fights with kids and eating.

"My captains and committees have taken a long time, impeccable detail and extraordinary creativity to plan the best events Thon has seen," morale overall Meghan Gaffney said in an e-mail message.

After seven years in Rec Hall, Thon will move to the Bryce Jordan Center next year. The news was announced at the Thon Kick-Off Dinner on Jan. 26. Thon overalls have not released any specific details so not to overshadow this year's dance marathon.

"I've always liked Rec Hall but [Thon] will be great wherever it is," Penn State President Graham Spanier on Friday night.

Spanier said there is nothing else like Thon in higher education.

"I don't think any university pulls together this much spirit around one event," he said.

At the press conference before Thon Friday, Undergraduate Student Government President Galen Foulke shared his story of being diagnosed osteosarcoma cancer, a type of bone cancer, at age of 16.

"I'm dancing to be a part of something where [the kids] don't have to think about [cancer]," Foulke said Saturday morning. "It's the most amazing gift."

This year was Erik Hosler's second time dancing at Thon.

Hosler (senior-information sciences and technology) said he felt more prepared for this year's Thon than the last time he danced because he was only four months out of treatment last time.

Hosler was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 18, but he has been in remission for 5 years.

"What isn't there to like about Thon," Hosler said. "It's just like hanging out with friends."

After the final total was announced, Hosler said he felt overwhelmed.

"It is my last year, my last time dancing and the last time in Rec Hall," Hosler said between tears. "Wow."

As dancers filed out of Rec Hall, Emily Angert (senior-communication sciences and disorders) sat on the floor and rubbed her feet.

"I am so relieved," she said. "But this is the best thing I've ever done in my entire life."

She said the moralers helped her make it through the weekend.

"My feet were the only thing that hurt the whole time," she said. "I was getting massages about every 30 minutes."

Jocelyn Fitzgerald (sophomore-biology and women's studies) said although her feet were tired, the "good stuff" definitely outweighed the pain.

"If you go to Penn State, you should have the dancing experience at least once," she said.