John Arnao said he is still in awe after receiving news early Thursday morning he was chosen to be the Thon 2010 communications overall.
"I didn't think it was real. I still am in shock. I'm so excited and so extremely happy. I was just floored that I got that call," Arnao (junior-health policy and administration) said about receiving word from Caitlin Zankowski, the recently appointed Interfraternity/Panhellenic Dance Marathon 2010 overall chairwoman.
The 14 members of the new Thon Overall Committee were chosen by Zankowski late Wednesday night. Seventy-two people applied for the overall committee, and Zankowski conducted interviews with 49 of them. The 2009 Overall Committee and Thon adviser Barry Bram sat in for the interviews, but the final decision was up to Zankowski, she said.
"My number one thing I was looking for was love and passion for Thon, and secondly, how people would work together as a team," Zankowski said.
Zankowski called the new overall committee members after about two hours of deliberation.
Interviews ended at 11 p.m. Wednesday night -- and reactions ranged from screaming to disbelief, she said.
Arnao, former Communications Committee captain and OPPerations Committee member, said he is excited to see Thon progress.
"I'm excited about continuing to see Thon grow as an organization and helping the growth with everything I'll do throughout the year," he said.
Brandon Dalton, Thon 2010 donor relations overall, said getting Zankowski's phone call was "unreal."
"I'm looking forward to making Thon 2010 bigger and better than it was last year, and I'm looking forward to working with the other Overall Committee members to make it bigger and better," Dalton (junior-accounting) said.
To make the transition from the 2009 Overall Committee to the 2010 Overall Committee run smoothly, a joint transition meeting for the two committees is being held this Sunday so each individual committee can schedule its transition to best fit its members' schedules.
"The transition process is something we take very seriously to ensure the success of Thon," Zankowski said. "However long they choose to stay in touch with their previous overall is up to them. It's an ongoing process."
Arnao said he is close friends with the previous communications overall, Greg Tallman, and anticipates "learning the behind-the-scenes stuff" and "how to be a better liaison to the Penn State community to spread Thon's message."
