This summer has been trying time for Penn State students and it’s been hard to find something positive in all this mess. However, this past Thursday I was lucky enough to visit the Penn State Hershey Medical Center as a part of the Entertainment committee for THON.

People were more than welcoming to us, as student representatives of the university, and opened up their hearts so they can tell us their stories and thank us for what we have accomplished at THON.

During the past year, the Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital (PSHCH) has earned awards for treatment in the the following:

• U.S. News and World Report Best Children’s Hospital – Cancer
• U.S. News and World Report Best Children’s Hospital – Diabetes & Endocrinology
• U.S. News and World Report Best Children’s Hospital – Orthopedics

These awards are given to the nation’s top 50 hospitals in ten separate categories, and this was the first year they have ranked in three. Several staff members including Matt Wain, the Chief Operating Officer of the Hershey Medical Center, acknowledged how this would not entirely be possible without the Penn State Dance Marathon.

He insisted that the University’s contributions to the Four Diamonds Fund have done wonders for the hospital, cancer research, and of course, those unfortunate children who have to battle with various forms of pediatric cancer. The best news of the day was that the four-floor addition, which is strictly for Cancer Care, will be opening this coming November.

The already prestigious hopsital will now have an addition because of the contributions from THON. Penn State pledged $10 million towards this new facility, and now the first floor — which will be for Outpatient Care —  dedicated to all those who have danced, donated, and supported THON since 1977.

This is what THON helped create…

…and this is what it will look like when finished.