For Morgan Zimmerman, it was like coming back to the Bryce Jordan Center.
As part of the "100 Days 'Til Thon" celebration, the HUB-Robeson Center was transformed into a Thon party. Walking through the HUB, 2009 Thon dancer Zimmerman joined a performance of last year's line dance.
"It brought back good memories," Zimmerman (sophomore-marketing) said.
Students colored, danced and got excited for the 2010 Interfraternity Council/Panhell-enic Dance Marathon on Wednesday.
"It's an event that generates a lot of excitement and involvement among student volunteers and raises awareness about the cause and organization," said Elyse Adams, Thon public relations overall chairwoman.
A balloon archway decorated the bottom of the main HUB stairway where the Four Diamonds image was also displayed, while various signs, balloons, streamers and paper chains decorated the entire building.
The first floor of the HUB was covered with various Thon-related activities. The Kids' Mail Call group had a table set up where students could color cards that will be given in bulk to the families and children at Thon.
Gina Nicolosi said she was inspired to be a part of this group after seeing the reactions of the kids at last year's Thon when they received the cards.
"It brought so much happiness to them," Nicolosi (junior-communication sciences and disorders) said.
Students could also decorate Thonvelopes with markers and stickers to make the cards more personalized, Adams (senior-bioengineering and mechanical engineering) said.
Thonvelopes were distributed beginning Tuesday, with 137,000 distributed on the first day alone, Adams said.
Dollar donations were also collected, and students could color a piece of paper with their name on it to be displayed in the Bryce Jordan Center during Thon weekend, Adams said.
Students could also sign up to participate in the Wigs for Kids portion of Thon, during which they have their hair cut off onstage and donated to the foundation.
And organizers were pushing Thon's latest initiative: 100 random acts of kindness. From now until Thon weekend, students are being asked to sign up and perform random acts of kindness and write about them on Thon Web sites.
Participants handed out gold ribbons in support of pediatric cancer, along with a pamphlet containing four facts about pediatric cancer.
On the stage, various Penn State groups spoke and performed throughout the event, including the Penn State cheerleaders and the Nittany Lion, the Lionettes and the Blue Sapphire.
Adams said she was excited to see all of the energy from everyone at the event.
"Right now, Thon belongs at Penn State, love belongs at Thon, love belongs here," Adams said.
