PHOTOS: What virtual THON 2021 looked like at Penn State
Penn State THON, the world’s largest student-run philanthropy, spends each year raising money to fund pediatric cancer research and care, culminating in a 46-hour-long no sitting, no sleeping dance marathon in Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this is the first year that THON was virtual, live-streaming events and performances over the 46-hour period with dancers dancing from their homes. Dancers, orgs, and clubs found ways to celebrate THON 2021, despite the virtual format.
THON 2021, Saturday, Club Soccer
Club soccer’s dancers, Jamie Fink (senior-communication sciences and disorders), left, and Natalia Reed (junior-rehabilitation and human services and psychology), take a photo with a cutout of their THON child at the Lion Shrine on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021 in State College, Pa.
THON 2021, Saturday, SWE
Penn State’s Society of Women Engineers (SWE) makes bracelets at the HUB-Robeson Center while on a campus-wide scavenger hunt on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021 in State College, Pa. SWE has scheduled activities for every hour of THON as a way to help their dancers through the full 46 hours.
THON 2021, Saturday, SWE
Penn State’s Society of Women Engineers (SWE) takes a selfie in front of the Bryce Jordan Center while on a campus-wide scavenger hunt on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021 in State College, Pa. SWE has scheduled activities for every hour of THON as a way to help their dancers through the full 46 hours.
THON 2021, Sunday, SWE Sledding
Penn State’s Society of Women Engineers (SWE) does “slopes of strength” at State High’s practice field on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021 in State College, Pa. Slopes of strength is SWE’s outdoor alternative to THON’s usual slides of strength, part of SWE’s 46 hours of continuous activities planned for their four dancers.
THON 2021, Saturday, SWE Sledding
Penn State’s Society of Women Engineers (SWE) does “slopes of strength” at State High’s practice field on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021 in State College, Pa. Slopes of strength is SWE’s outdoor alternative to THON’s usual slides of strength, part of SWE’s 46 hours of continuous activities planned for their four dancers.
THON 2021, Sunday, SWE Sledding
Penn State’s Society of Women Engineers (SWE) does “slopes of strength” at State High’s practice field on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021 in State College, Pa. Slopes of strength is SWE’s outdoor alternative to THON’s usual slides of strength, part of SWE’s 46 hours of continuous activities planned for their four dancers.
THON 2021, Sunday, SWE Sledding
Penn State’s Society of Women Engineers (SWE) does “slopes of strength” at State High’s practice field on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021 in State College, Pa. Slopes of strength is SWE’s outdoor alternative to THON’s usual slides of strength, part of SWE’s 46 hours of continuous activities planned for their four dancers.
Ashley Pauls Memorial
A memorial for Penn State student Ashley Pauls is set up on the HUB-Robeson Center’s lawn on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021 in University Park, Pa. Pauls, who died earlier this month, was very active in THON and her family has requested that contributions be made to THON in lieu of flowers.
THON2021, Sunday Parking lot chicken
Natalie Kiel and Brendan Erwin share fries from a chicken basket in the parking lot of the Bryce Jordan Center on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Even though THON is virtual, students can still order chicken baskets from the Bryce Jordan Center through the Penn State GO app.
Bryce Jordan Center THON chalk
The ground outside of the Bryce Jordan Center is decorated with chalk on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021 with community members sharing “why they THON.”
THON dancers from home 2021
SPSEA THON chair Grace Williams (junior-special education) stands with her parents during the final hours of THON on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021.
THON dancers Family Hour 2021
Rachel Rehmeyer (junior-public relations), Ella Beidler (junior-biobehavioral health) and Kate Lewis (junior-early childhood education) tear up while watching THON’s Family Hour on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021.
THON dancers stretching from home 2021
Rachel Rehmeyer (junior-public relations), Kate Lewis (junior-early childhood development) and Grace Williams (junior-special education) help each other stretch during the final four hours of THON on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021.
THON 2021, Sunday, Lyndsay Stakem
Penn State Global Brigades dancer Lyndsay Stakem (junior-biobehavioral health) stretches with the help of Hannah Olszewski (junior-marketing) during the final four hours of THON while dancing from her apartment on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021 in State College, Pa.
THON 2021, Saturday, Lyndsay Stakem Mail
Lyndsay Stakem (junior-biobehavioral health) opens a care package from one of her org’s THON families as she dances for Penn State Global Brigades’ THON chapter on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021 in State College, Pa. Despite THON’s recommendation for dancers to rest during the six-hour rest periods in the virtual live-stream, Stakem plans to dance and stay awake for the full 46 hours.
THON 2021, Sunday, Lyndsay Stakem
Penn State Global Brigades dancer Lyndsay Stakem (junior-biobehavioural health) does the 2021 line dance with her friends during the final four hours of THON while dancing from her apartment on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021 in State College, Pa.
THON 2021, Sunday, Lyndsay Stakem
Penn State Global Brigades dancer Lyndsay Stakem (junior-biobehavioral health) is brought to tears by Hannah Olszewski (junior-marketing) during the final four hours of THON while dancing from her apartment on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021 in State College, Pa. Olszewski expressed her thankfulness for Stakem’s friendship, writing her a heartfelt note for Stakem’s THON inspiration wall.
