Penn State Thon spirit continues virtually for Mechanicsburg family
Updated Feb 18, 2021;
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When Amy Shepps first participated in Thon, she was a student at Penn State.
It was always an exciting time, packing into the Bryce Jordan Center and dancing the night – or rather, the weekend – away. And all for a good cause.
A few years ago, Shepps made her return to Thon. This time, as a parent.
“When our child became sick, and they started introducing us as a Thon family, it was a little surreal,” she said.
In March 2015, her daughter, Clara, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Clara is now 9 years old and is a happy third grader at Shaull Elementary School, where she is doing fantastic, Shepps said.
The tech that drives THON
THON Weekend will be held primarily virtually for the first time in its nearly 50-year history, making the committee that plans and manages technology for THON more essential than ever.
Image: Penn State
The tech that drives THON
Emma Riglin
February 16, 2021
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. The roar of a huge crowd. Speakers blasting the music to the line dance. Thousands of people in bright colors dancing at the Bryce Jordan Center on Penn State s University Park campus.
These are the sights and sounds that typically define the atmosphere at the Penn State Dance Marathon, more familiarly known as THON. But this year, with restrictions on in-person gatherings due to COVID-19, things will look and feel a little different.
POTD-2 5 21-THON Gift Boxes
Anne Papandreas, THON family relations director, prepares one of the many gift boxes that will be sent to Four-Diamonds families. Each box offers a variety of fun items and activities that families can use while viewing the 2021 virtual Penn State Dance Marathon Feb. 19 to 21. THON is a student-run philanthropy committed to enhancing the lives of children and families impacted by childhood cancer.
IMAGE: Patrick Mansell