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In the midst of this turbulent year for all of us at Penn State, one of the most prominent questions was how this terrible scandal would affect THON 2012. Not surprisingly, Penn State students worked harder than ever For The Kids. The record breaking total of $10,686,924.83 was beyond anyone's expectations. A similar story is true for the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council. An organization consisting of no more than thirty students, LAUC could not be more proud of the dedicated members who put in time and effort toward reaching our THON goals.

Thanks to the success of LAUC's THON 2011 efforts, the Council was rewarded with two guaranteed dancers for THON 2012. We were honored to have Rob Turchick and John Zang represent us for 46 hours on the floor of the BJC. They did an incredible job!

This year, the Council was able to organize a trip to Pittsburgh for the first canning weekend. Never before had we started out on such a strong note with over $1000 raised. Throughout the year LAUCers were enthusiastic to attend and participate in events such as the THON 5K, THON Dodgeball, and various THON sponsored fundraisers. Additionally, one of our initial goals was to improve upon our alternative fundraising. No Shave November was a hairy competition that provided entertainment and funds to add to our THON total. As a new idea, LAUC decided to plan a late-night bake sale where we sold everything from cupcakes to Oreo truffles. The sale was such a fun and successful night, with rehearsed slogans and dancing members, we decided to hold another one a few weeks later. Together the sales brought in $736.80. Our final canning trip to Philadelphia was a weekend full of Cranium battles, Bananagrams, generous donors and a grand total of $2,005.25.

With these extraordinary efforts, combined with THONvelopes and THONline fundraising, LAUC surpassed any goal we could have possibly imagined. We couldn't be more excited to announce that the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council's total for THON 2012 is... $9205.92!!!

Thanks for everything LAUC!

Your THON Chairs,


Katie Klonicki & Sarina Katz

Liberal arts majors John Zang and Rob Turchick join Dean Long for episode 38 of our bi-weekly podcast Liberal Arts Voices to discuss THON and State Patty's Day.

John and Rob begin the podcast by discussing their experiences as dancers in last weekend's IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON). For those who do not know, THON is a Penn State student-run annual initiative to raise money in support of pediatric cancer research through the four diamonds fund at Hershey Medical Center. This year, Penn State students raised a staggering $10.6 million that will go to children and families facing the many forms of pediatric cancer.

This year, John and Rob filled the two dancer spots earned by the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council (LAUC) for raising $5,600 last year. John and Rob share how they stayed awake and standing for the 46 hours of the Dance Marathon. John and Rob also talk about how LAUC successfully raised $8,400 this year. Congrats to LAUC for their efforts this year!

The second half of the podcast shifts to a discussion of State Patty's Day, an annual student created holiday occurring this weekend focusing primarily on drinking. The group talks about the recent movement encouraging students to think differently about State Patty's Day, especially in light of the events on campus last fall and early spring. John and Rob shed some light on the variety of responses about the holiday within the student body and across the variety of student organizations. Dean Long talks about his recent blog post with LAUC President Lauren Perrotti focusing on the different service initiatives planned for this weekend.

Liberal Arts Voices: Episode 38 "THON and State Patty's Day" 

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We encourage all of our listeners to write to us with comments, questions, or suggestions to laus@la.psu.edu. We may even respond to these comments on the next episode of Liberal Arts Voices.

In episode twenty three of Liberal Arts Voices, undergraduate students Marlee Kattler and Noelle Smith join the program to discuss their impressions of THON 2011. 

THON is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world. The THON website describes the organization as "a yearlong effort to raise funds and awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer." THON has raised more than $78 million since its inception in 1977. This year, THON raised a record breaking $9,563,016.09 for The Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital.

In this podcast, Marlee talks about her experience as Campus Outreach Faculty Communications Captain for THON 2011. She sheds light on all of the practical components that go into making THON a success, including a variety of fundraising initiatives throughout the year. 

Noelle spends some time discussing her role as THON 2011 Administrative Assistant for the Communications Committee. Noelle also shares her experiences as a first-time THON dancer. She talks about her training strategies and all of the things that helped to get her through the 46 hours of dancing.

Lastly Marlee and Noelle, both seniors at Penn State,  reflect on their favorite THON memories over the last four years.  If you would like to learn more about THON's mission and philanthropy goals or to find out how to get involved, visit their website.  

Liberal Arts Voices: Episode 23

To subscribe to Liberal Arts Voices through iTunes, click here.

We encourage all of our listeners to write to us with comments, questions, or suggestions at laus@la.psu.edu. We may even respond to these comments on the next episode of Liberal Arts Voices. 

The Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council raised a whopping $5,600 this year for THON. Like the overall total for THON, this is a new record for LAUC. They bested their previous record by over $2,000.

What accounts for this overwhelming success? THON Chair Lauren Perrotti says that canning was definitely the group's most effective fund-raising tactic. Both new LAUC members and seasoned leaders carpooled together and braved the cold on each canning weekend. In addition to helping LAUC meet its THON goals, these experiences "really brought the group together," says Lauren.

In other years, LAUC was selected in the THON lottery system and was able to choose two students to dance on behalf of the group.  Although they didn't have that kind of luck this year, the LAUC members maintained their enthusiasm for the event. As a group they attended the Pep Rally and collectively supported the dancers and the Four Diamonds families from 6:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, the final day of THON.

LAUC member Gabby Rosemblum, who also served on the Rules and Regulations Committee, estimates that she spent a total of 40 hours at the Bryce Jordan Center during THON. She says that serving on her committee and joining LAUC  "were two of the best decisions that I've made so far at Penn State. The people that I met in both of these organizations are all incredible and I have grown very close to them. It felt amazing when LAUC raised so much money for THON, especially since we are a smaller organization. It truly shows how dedicated people are and it was wonderful to know that we each helped to make a difference."

Kudos to all of the members of LAUC!  We're proud of you and your very impressive efforts this year. If this upward trend in your fund-raising abilities continues, who knows what next year will bring!

We have 9,563,016.09 more reasons to smile. Wow. It's still sinking in.

THON 2011 happened in a flash and the hard work that all of the THON volunteers put in this past year has really paid off.

I guess we can start with last week leading into THON...that seems like a lifetime ago! Well Wednesday night I COULD NOT SLEEP...I was so excited for THON that my mind was a-racing. But don't worry, I finally got some beauty sleep.

Thursday I packed up everything that I would need for the weekend as I was going to be moving into the BJC at 7 am Friday morning. I packed my bag, some snacks and my pillow and I was set to go. I tried to get to bed at a decent hour Thursday night because I had my alarm set for 5:50 am. I thought I would have trouble waking up at that hour, but as soon as my alarm went off I popped right out of bed. I was so excited...THON was finally here.

My roommate was kind enough to drive me and a few of my fellow Co-Captains up to the BJC before the sun had even come up. We had our first Captain meeting once we got there and then we got to work. We had to help transform the BJC into that magical place known as THON.

We loaded and set up cots for the sleep-shift rooms. Captains get two four hour sleep shifts throughout the weekend and but we also were in charge of setting these rooms up. It was so cool to see the BJC transforming throughout the day and to see the behind the scenes efforts of all the volunteers.

My committee members arrived at the BJC at 8 a.m. to decorate their information booth. As Communications Committee Members, one of their responsibilities is to work the THON Information Booths. This requires them to be knowledgeable about all things THON and about the set up of the BJC. To make each booth more fun, the Committee members get to pick a theme and decorate the booth. The theme for out booth was "Video Games"...it looked amazing! Who doesn't love a good Pac-man? Once the booth was done the committee members were free to go until the Human Tunnel.

What is a Human Tunnel you may ask? Well, all of the Committees line the path from the Multi-sports Complex (where the Dancers meet pre-THON) to the BJC. Everyone cheers on the dancers as they work their way to the BJC where they will soon be standing without sleep for 46 straight hours. Communications was the first group on the course and my Committee was so excited for THON to start.

Dancers stood at 6 p.m. and the excitement in the air was contagious. Little kids were running around with squirt guns, coloring books and some great music...THON was officially underway. The place was packed and already bumping with energy. My committee had four shifts throughout the weekend and they were prompt and on time to all of them. I have never been more proud than I was this weekend after seeing my committee truly enjoy the essence of THON. During every shift, they get floor time where they had the chance to dance, play with kids, and visit their friends who were dancing. They got to interact with some of the children and got in some serious water gun fights, which they lost of course.

One of my favorite parts of THON is looking down into the sea of colored t-shirts on floor. These shirts are the colors of all the 14 different Committees that help to make THON happen. Each of these Committees is so important and vital to the success of THON. Everybody involved in THON makes it what it is and we are all bonded by a common cause. In the words of JoePa..."When they say We Are Penn State...this is what they are talking about." I couldn't have said it better myself.  

I can't believe that THON has come and gone in a blink of an eye. I am so excited to see what THON 2012 will bring.  We will not stop until the day that we can dance in celebration. My Captain from last year sent me an email this Tuesday, after THON was over, in which he said that THON is not just an opportunity to receive something, but an opportunity to give something. I will take all that I have received from THON with me for the rest of my life. 

"When you bring together good people for a common cause, there really are no limits."
-Together Without Limits 2011 

For The Kids, For The Future,

Marlee

I know it's been a little while since I've blogged for LAUS@PSU, but THON is rapidly approaching and I have been super busy. In less than two weeks, THON 2011 will be here and the thought is overwhelmingly exciting. It honestly feels like just yesterday that I was a new Committee Member going to my first shift for THON 2010. How fast time flies!

Since my last post, a lot has happened. First of all, my Committee went on the third canning weekend, this time, to my "home sweet home" in good old Landenberg, PA. It's lovely this time of year, bitter cold and smells like mushrooms. What more could a group of college students ask for?

Let me say one thing, my Committee members are troopers! During this canning weekend, there were weather advisories warning people not to go outdoors because of the frigid temperatures. But that did not stop us. We were up bright and early on Saturday morning, greeted by a delicious breakfast spread that my wonderful mother put together. Once we cleared the sleepy fog from our eyes, we bundled ourselves up in tons of layers, piled into the cars, and set out for a day of canning FOR THE KIDS. That is really what kept us going that day - just knowing that we were helping to make a difference in the lives of many children and families.  Twenty minutes into canning, the tops of my fingers went numb - great. But we started doing last year's line dance to stay warm and the donations started flowing! After a long day of a canning, we returned to the warmth of my house to defrost our bodies and count the money. We did a great job and I was proud of my Committee members for being so dedicated.

A few weeks after the canning weekend, my Co-Captain Louise and I hosted a pre-THON meeting for any interested faculty members. It was a small group but it was extremely productive and beneficial. We got to hear their ideas about increasing THON involvement and got some great starting points for For The Future (FTF). Right now, one of the events that we are planning for the faculty and staff THON weekend is a behind the scenes tour of the BJC. We will also teach the participants the line dance which they will eventually get to perform on stage...lucky them! These will be fun events and a great way for faculty and staff to see THON from a different perspective.

This weekend is the final canning weekend. My committee is not going canning this time.  Instead, I plan on going home for the weekend to rest up before the big weekend next week (February 18-20, 2011). THON is approaching very quickly, so get excited and make sure to come check it out. I promise, you won't regret it! Look for a post next week about the week leading up to THON...it's going to be a whirlwind but I can't wait!

FTK,
Marlee

Hello everyone!

After a wonderfully relaxing holiday break, I have fully recharged my battery and am ready to hit the ground running for THON 2011. Can you believe that its already 2011? It's going to be a great year, I just know it.

Last week was a little tough getting back into the swing of things, but once I got my final semester class schedule tweeked to perfection, things got easier. We had a THON meeting on the first Monday of the semester, we do not waste any time!

My committee heard back from our Penn Pal over break, which is very exciting! For those of you who do not know, we have the opportunity to become "Penn Pals" with a Four Diamonds Family throughout the year. It's a great way for students to feel more connected to the Four Diamonds Family and to really get to know one of the kids. My committee made a booklet for our Penn Pal of all of our pictures with fun facts about each of us. It's a really unique and fun way to connect with a family. It's even more exciting when we get a letter back!

Another exciting update is that Awareness Week is next week. As a Communications Captain, I am part of the Outreach Focus Group which includes captains from Family Relations, Merchandise, Communications, and Public Relations. Our main project this year has been planning and executing Awareness Week. We decided that this would be a great way to raise awareness about Pediatric Cancer which is symbolized by the Gold Ribbon.

Each day of the week will have a different theme and corresponding activities at the HUB. Monday is THON day which will feature a variety of performances and music. Tuesday is Four Diamonds Day. A Four Diamonds Panel will share facts about the fund and research being done. On Wednesday, Gold Ribbon Day, Gold Ribbons and Pediatric Cancer facts will be distributed. Every day there will be different tables set up for merchandise and Happy Quarters. For those of you who don't know, every week at our Committee meetings we do Happy Quarters at the end of the meeting. We pass around a jar and put in any quarters (or change, dollar bills, etc.) and tell each other what we are happy for. The money collected from this goes right to THON. It's a great way to reflect on your week and donate to the cause. Definitely stop by the HUB these days and take part in the activities!

This upcoming weekend is Canning Weekend number 3! My committee is going to my house in good old Landenberg, PA. The forecast for Saturday is high of 22, low of 11. So, we are preparing to bring lots and lots of layers. Stay tuned for next week to hear about our canning adventure and Awareness Week updates.

Stay warm and until next time FTK!

Marlee

Good morning! Those Penn State students are at it again!!! This past weekend marked the second canning weekend to raise money FTK. This was my Committee's first canning weekend that we got to do together, which turned out to be so much fun and a great success!

Last week, the Rules and Regulations Committees organized the canning materials distribution. 2619 cans were distributed just before this past Canning Weekend, bringing us to a total of 8152 for the year so far. Basically, thousands of cans had to be cleaned and distributed to canners, along with signs, that can be used while canning. I got our cans from the HUB on Friday and one of my Committee members was kind enough to come get them to put in his car which saved me the trouble of lugging 16+ cans back to my West College apartment.

This weekend we decided to do a joint canning trip with another Communications Committee, which turned out to be awesome. Everyone got to get to know each other really well, which is so important and I was glad to see this happen.

Our caravan of cars departed State College around 6 p.m. on Friday night. We went to Missy's, one of my Committee Members, house in Pittsburgh. Her family was kind enough to open their home to 17 college students! When we arrived at Missy's house, her mom had a wonderful spread of food awaiting us. The way to college students' hearts is definitely through their stomachs.

We ate dinner and watched Elf, clearly a Christmas classic. We just hung out and put the labels on the cans that we were going to be using the next day. It was really great to just relax and get to know one another a little better.

Alarms went off at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday morning. It took us all a little bit to get moving but after a delicious breakfast and some much needed coffee, we were all ready to go. The weather forcast for the day was a high of 30 degrees with a strong wind chill factor...perfect. We piled on layers of clothing to stay warm, I literally put on every article of clothing that I had brought for the weekend. One of my Committee members managed to get on 4 pairs of pants, impressive!

We split up into four groups and found locations outside of stores and the mall. We found out that there are Penn Staters everywhere! I got so many "We Are" chants from the people who donated, which was really exciting.

We took a break for lunch and to defrost our bodies, which was much needed. Once we were recharged and warmed up, we headed back out to continue canning. We stayed out for a while longer then decided to call it a day. We headed back to Missy's house to count our money and find out how much we collectively raised FTK.

We started off by separating all the money (including the coins) by denomination. All the bills must be facing the same way which makes it much easier for Finance Committee who is in charge of all of THON's money. We ended up raising over $1,000 FOR THE KIDS! So exciting!

Missy's parents made us yet another delicious meal Saturday night while we relaxed and watched some football together. It's weekends like this when I am most proud to be a Penn Stater. I loved watching my Committee bond with one another and with members of the other Committee. It really is incredible what you can accomplish when you put together a group of very different people. The theme for THON 2011 is Together Without Limits, and I must say that this couldn't be any more fitting.

The money we raised was divided evenly up amongst the 16 people on our trip. Those who are also involved in an organization outside of our Committee, can credit their portion to their organization's THON fundraising total. Those who do not have an organization can just give their portion as a general donation to THON.

We headed back to State College early Sunday morning due to a snow storm that had started brewing. We all made it back safely and early enough on Sunday to still have time to prepare for our last week of classes.

Monday marked the 2nd canning drop-off. Each organization has a specified time to drop off their money raised during the canning weekend. This is run by the Finance Committee and they do such a great and efficient job doing this. They keep us all organized.

I can already see a change in the dynamic of my Committee members after our weekend together. It really is great to see a group of strangers bond together over a common cause. I am already looking forward to canning weekend number 3 in January! This time we will be venturing to my home in good old Kennett Square, PA! Fun Fact: It's the mushroom capital of the world.

I can't believe that fall semester is almost over. That means THON 2011 will be here before we know it. Stay tuned for more blogging from me as exciting events are always happening.

This week, my Committee is brainstorming ideas for more THON Faculty involvement, any ideas you think I should pass along to them?

Until next time!

FTK,

Marlee

Hi everyone!

Let me start off by introducing myself! My name is Marlee Kattler and I am a senior Public Relations student. Last year I decided to join a Communications Committee for THON 2010. I fell in love with the cause and I instantly knew that I wanted to do more. Now I am the Campus Outreach Faculty Communications Captain for THON 2011.

Looking back on my four years here at Penn State, it all seems a blur. What sticks out in my mind as my best memories are my THON memories.

Every week something new is happening or in the works involving THON. There is always something new to learn, and I continue to learn every week.

Since this is my very first blog, I figured I should give you all a little look into what your students are doing outside of the classroom when they are involved in THON. So much has happened thus far, so stick with me as I try to catch you up!

As a Captain we have our weekly meetings every Monday night. It is here that our Overall Chairperson runs our meeting and keeps us up-to-date and informed about everything happening with THON. This can include things like fundraising events, blood drives, and merchandise sales.

This year I get the privilege to have a Committee of 30 members who my Co-Captain and I interviewed at the beginning of the semester. We have our meetings on Wednesday nights where we go over important dates to remember and brainstorm ideas to increase Faculty and Staff involvement as that is our specific role within THON.

November 16th marked the fourth annual Faculty and Staff Luncheon held at the Hintz Alumni Center. This was my Committee's big event! I began working on planning this event at the beginning of the semester with my Overall, Elaine. I worked with the Public Relations Graphic Design Captain in order to design an invitation for the event, which came out awesome, she is so creative! Once we had a general idea of how many invitations we were going to need we got them ordered and printed at ProCopy. Then the distribution began and RSVPs started rolling in.

The luncheon was held at the Hintz Alumni Center from 12-2. All Faculty and Staff were encouraged to come and go at their convenience. Once everyone was settled with their food, the presentation began. The presentation included facts and figures about THON and what it is all about. I was pretty nervous about speaking, but once I got going I felt at ease! We were fortunate enough to have two Faculty members who are also Four Diamond parents speak about their personal encounters, which was extremely moving. Two THON Captains who are Four Diamond Families also spoke at the event which gave a very powerful perspective to everyone in attendance.The turn-out at the event was great, and I felt it ran very smoothly! You can all look forward to another luncheon next year that will be hosted by my successor.

This week my Committee and I will be making THONvelopes before our meeting on Wednesday. It's always more fun to do it with  friends!! For those of you who don't already know, THONvelopes are another way that we fundraise FTK (For The Kids). They are letters that we send out to our families and friends that explain what THON is and encourage them to donate. The THONvelopes include an addressed return envelope, making it simple for them to mail their donations back.

This weekend is the second Canning trip and my Committee is going to Pittsburgh. There are four designated Canning weekends throughout the year where student volunteers stand outside of store fronts requesting donations from passerbys. No matter the weather conditions, you can be sure to see Penn State students bundled up with their signs and cans!  

Stay tuned for a recap of how the weekend went. Keep your fingers crossed for no snow and rain!

Until next time!

For The Kids,

Marlee