On February 19, THON overall chairs announced that the philanthropy had raised $10,686,924.83 dollars.
Today marks the beginning of the 100-day countdown for this year’s 2013 THON weekend, where a new crowd will be drawn to fill the Bryce Jordan Center in hopes of battling pediatric cancer.
To celebrate the occasion, the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon is hosting a “100 days ‘til THON” event all day today in the HUB-Robeson Center, with lots of different scheduled events for students and community members to participate in.
Throughout the day, there will be several entertainment acts, the first set of acts starting at 11 a.m. Public Relations Captain Ashley Weber said that some of these acts will include the Penn State Blue Band, Penn State cheerleaders, the Lionettes dance team, Whiplash dance team and the Singing Lions.
Following these acts, at about 11:50 a.m., the Mr. and Mrs. THON contestants will be paraded on stage to meet the crowd.
The Mr. and Mrs. THON pageant is Nov. 28, but today will be the first time the public will be introduced to the 14 couples that will be competing, Weber said.
Taking a break from entertainment, the next event is one that will be carried out for the first time at the 100 days event. The Wigs for Kids hair donation ceremony will begin at 12:30 p.m. on stage, and one of THON’s own captains has decided to demonstrate to the crowd what it will be like during THON weekend.
“This will be a small-scale version of what actually occurs during THON weekend. Meghan Duffy, one of our Special Events Captains, volunteered to have her hair cut at the event to benefit Wigs for Kids,” Special Events captain Lauren Kane (senior-life sciences) said.
Shortly after the hair donation ceremony, at about 12:40 p.m., a surprise Four Diamonds Family speaker will take the floor and share a personal story with the crowd.
Another highlighted event, THON’s got Talent, will begin at 1 p.m., and will feature guest judges and acts competing for one grand prize –– to perform during THON weekend.
Weber said the guest judges for the event will be the Nittany Lion, THON Overall Chairman Will Martin (senior-communication sciences and disorders) and local rapper and Penn State cornerback Mike Wallace.
At 2:45 p.m., all are invited to join in the traditional Human Photograph, which will be taken on Old Main lawn, and as usual, this year’s theme of the photograph is a surprise.
“We use the picture that we take throughout the year for different things,” Media Relations Captain Megan Renaut said. “Everyone will be wearing their 100 days shirt, and it serves as a great way for everyone to get involved.”
The final event of the day, which is another event that everyone is encouraged to be a part of, is the traditional Silent Rave at 3 p.m.. Weber said that this involves people putting in their headphones and individually dancing, with others also dancing to their own music, out on Pollock Road.
Renaut (sophomore-psychology) said that she expects a big turnout for this event, as it is an event for the entire Penn State and THON community to come together.
“There is always so much energy and entertainment, and everyone will be dancing around.” Renaut said. “It’s a chance to come together as a THON community, pull people in, and give them an idea as to how electrifying it is to come together as a student body. This will be a small symbol of the excitement of THON.”
