Caitlin Zankowski screamed and jumped up to hug Mike Hacke when she found out Sunday night she was chosen to succeed Hacke as the Thon 2010 overall chairwoman, she said.
Zankowski (senior-industrial engineering) said she felt "pure joy" when Thon 2009 overall chairman Hacke, Thon adviser Barry Bram and Four Diamonds Fund Director Sara Firestone came to her house at about 11:30 p.m. to congratulate her for being appointed the 2010 Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon overall chairwoman.
"I can't speak highly enough of Caitlin, and I'm so excited to watch her grow as a leader and watch her build a team to make Thon 2010 the best Thon yet," Hacke said.
Applications for the position were due last week, and a lengthy interview process and a discussion were held Sunday. Hacke, Bram, Firestone and Thon 2009 overalls that were not applying for the position conducted the interviews, Hacke said.
"We had four great applicants, and this was the toughest decision I made all year," Hacke said. "Above being a natural leader, she has a vision that is not only going to benefit Thon 2010. She will be a good leader to affect Thon 2015 and 2020."
The other applicants were 2009 Family Relations Overall Chairwoman Katie Austin, 2009 Com-munications Overall Chairman Greg Tallman and 2009 Supply Logistics Overall Chairwoman Carley Bria.
Zankowski's vision is to take the momentum gathered from 2009 and carry it into 2010. She hopes to expand Thon and its reach, and hopes to have "a more successful year than last year both emotionally and financially."
Zankowski was a member of the Rules and Regulations committee in 2006, a Rules and Regulations captain in 2007 and 2008, and was the Rules and Regulations overall chairwoman for Thon 2009.
Bram said this experience, in addition to her being a member of a Thon fundraising focus group, was what made her stand out.
"She has a really great knowledge of how Thon runs," Bram said.
The first thing on Zankowski's to-do list is to pick the new overall committee, she said. Applications for the positions are due Friday and interviews will be held through next Wednesday.
Zankowski said she plans to uphold the decision of moving the IFC and PHC associate vice president positions to the Communications committee and thinks the change will benefit both Thon and the greek community.
While there are a lot of things to look forward to in the coming year, Zankowski said she is "excited to get the ball rolling" and "get Thon 2010 underway."
