Penn State has 6.6 million more reasons to smile after the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon raised a record-shattering total of $6,615,318.04.
This year's total eclipsed last year's record of $5,240,385.17 by $1,374,932.87.
The 17 members of the overall committee, dressed in matching blue track suits, stood on the diamond-shaped stage and each revealed a part of the total by raising posters.
The total was announced about 10 minutes after the 708 dancers were able to sit down for the first time in 46 hours.
"When they revealed the total, I was in absolute shock," said Erin Flynn (senior-marketing), a dancer for Phi Gamma Nu business fraternity. "When I saw the first '6,' I figured we had beat last year's total, but when they showed the second '6,' there was just silence for about 10 seconds. It's completely unbelievable."
Thon 2008 Overall Chairman Dan Cocco said at a post-Thon press conference that the total is a reflection of a school year's worth of canning and fundraising.
"We came into this year with many expectations, but never have I said 'I want to raise this amount,'" Cocco said. "This entire weekend was great beyond any expectations I may have had or could have had."
After the initial shock wore off, dancers and spectators screamed and embraced one another, while others began to cry.
The millions of dollars raised will help Four Diamonds Fund families pay for treatment and other extensive costs while their children are fighting cancer.
Thon celebrated its 36th anniversary this year and was held for the second time in the Bryce Jordan Center.
"One thing that was really impressive was how smoothly everything went -- from set-up to the start to the total," said Public Relations Overall Mike Petrasek. Petrasek attributed the lack of glitches to experience in the building.
Cocco said he expects Thon to continue growing but thinks it has found a home at the BJC.
"As far as having Thon at the BJC, I couldn't be more pleased," Cocco said. "I don't want to go anywhere else."
One new feature at Thon this year was the stage, which was in the shape of the Four Diamonds logo.
Throughout the weekend, Thon dancers, committee members and supporters were joined by Four Diamonds families on the floor of the BJC.
"This is like a holiday weekend for us to come up here," said Pete Bush, father of Four Diamonds child Sydney, 4. "We put it on our calendar as soon as we get the date."
Although many dancers said they were suffering from aches in various body parts after Thon ended, they seemed to agree they were glad they completed the journey.
"The weekend was definitely a roller coaster. There were a lot of ups and downs, but even every down was the best feeling," Igor Makhlin (senior-bioengineering), a dancer for Kappa Theta Epsilon honor society, said as he rubbed his legs. "Every pain I felt was worth it."
