Success with Hyperlinking is Igniting Hope Within

Yes, some news tangentially related to “IT” came out yesterday. Yes, it’s just so convenient that it happened before my designated SwH date came up.

No, I’m not going to talk about it. There’s far too much good happening to focus on that garbage in this space. Instead, we’re going to talk about the best thing that Penn State students do each year.

THON 2017 is now. The largest student-run philanthropy in the entire world, the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon kicks off on Friday evening and will last through Sunday, with 708 dancers on their feet for 48 hours in the Bryce Jordan Center. Nearly one quarter of all Penn State students involve themselves For the Kids in this event, which raises millions upon millions of dollars for the Four Diamonds Fund in support of families dealing with pediatric cancer diagnoses.

Last year, THON raised over $10,000,000, and kept administrative costs down so that 95% of it went directly to the Four Diamonds Fund. In 2014, it raised a record breaking $13,844,684.52.

As most of you know (since I talk about it every year), I danced in 2006, the last year that THON was a 48 hour endeavor, and the final year it occurred in Rec Hall. It was the best weekend of my entire college career. If you are on campus, do yourself a favor and go see it for yourself. There’s a ton going on, and your fellow Penn Staters need your support. Get involved by donating directly or by buying sweet, sweet merch. See if you can find yourself (or my wife and I) in the THON Mosaic, located in the HUB.

Onward State has a complete list of dancers. It also offers a last-minute THON checklist. Most importantly, just make sure not to go if you think you have the mumps. Instead, go seek treatment.

Award Winner. In more excellent news, congratulations to Penn State football alumnus (and excellent mean-mugger) Stephen Obeng-Agyapong, Jr. for winning the Science Spectrum Trailblazer Award at 2017’s Black Engineer of the Year STEM Conference. Between Stephen and John Urschel, everyone reading this should feel remarkably unaccomplished.

Early Action. Some of our recruits haven’t even set foot on campus and they’re already making an impact in their communities. Like Damion Barber, who visited big-time Penn State fan Bob Pramik to cheer him on in battling the undetermined neurological disorder he’s facing. Go get ‘em, Bob! Keep fighting!

In other football news. Lamont Wade is optimistic about the future. ESPN says Pitt is a must-win and Northwestern is a trap game. And Frank Bodani of the York Daily Record gives a Q&A.