Four Diamonds families, captains, and committee members packed in the White Building gym to celebrate this year’s Family Carnival. Under the theme of superheroes, children and students ran about, engaging in gallant balloon-sword battles and breaking through cardboard brick walls, donning capes and FTK designed masks.

The Four Diamonds Children coursed through a multitude of games, including ski ball and whac-a-mole (whac-a-committee-member technically), taking breaks to show off their dance moves on the stage to the upbeat tunes of Larry Moore. Smiles, laughter, and relief filled the afternoon, as everyone awaited the revealing of the 2013 logo.

Family Carnival newcomers, Joe and Susanne Bernard, parents of Four Diamond Child Katelyn Bernard, found today to be a great opportunity to expand their rapport within the THON community.

“It has been really nice getting to meet a lot of the committee members and captains,” Joe said. “It’s a great way to ease us in before THON Weekend.”

Unfortunately, the Bernard’s were not able to attend last year’s Family Carnival, because their daughter was in therapy at the time event.

“It’s more intimate, but there is still a lot of energy,” Sue said. “It really gives our kids a chance to get to interact with the THON committee members like they will with the dancers.”

After a few chants led by a few members of the Blue Band and the cheerleaders, and performances by groups such as Orchesis and the Singing Lions, the time to unveil the logo had arrived. After a quick video explaining the conception of designer Jing Wu’s drawing, the covering dropped, iPhones all simultaneously raised to capture the long-expected image.

Public Relations Overall Cat Powers explained that the logo is chosen from a pool of students in a graphic design class that assigns all its members to draft a logo as a part of their grade. Those students are then given the opportunity to submit their work to THON if they choose, where one is ultimately chosen to represent that year.

“We were immediately captivated by it; by the fresh and vibrant colors,” Powers said.

Powers explained how each of the logo’s components–the children planting the seed, watering it, and the flowers blossoming at the top–represent the continuous processes of growth and healing.

“A tree takes time to cultivate,” Powers said. “With the opening of the new children’s hospital in Hershey and the consistent innovative research, miracles will continue to happen.”

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