Name: Nikita Kachroo

Major: Biology

Past THON Experience:

OPPerations Committee Member
Rules & Regulations Committee Member
Supply Logistics Raffle Captain

Name an interesting, weird, or quirky fact about yourself:

I have been driven around in a self-driving Uber before!

What made you want to apply for the Supply Logistics Director position for THON 2018?

From my experience as a Captain on Supply Logistics, I knew that I had found my passion within THON through communication with donors. I really cherish the ability to spread THON’s mission through donor contact and bridge relationships with stakeholders to grow our organization as a whole. However, I knew that in regards to Supply Logistics this year, the area which we needed most improvement was inventory management. I felt that I had a balanced skill set of being logistically minded to tackle inventory yet naturally comfortable with donor contact to be able to make a huge impact within the Supply Logistics Committee. A pivotal moment for me last year was during the Family Carnival, during a group huddle my director had us take a look around the room to notice every game, craft and toy that made a child smile was through the work of Supply Logistics. It is in moments like those where I knew I wanted to play a more integral role within THON through Supply Logistics. I want to continue creating special moments and positive experiences for Four Diamonds families, ensuring that all events reach their fullest potential and truly come to life through the work of Supply Logistics.

What are your responsibilities as the Supply Logistics Director?

I oversee all in-kind (non-monetary or food) donations for all pre-THON events and THON Weekend. I have the incredible opportunity to work with over 20 incredible donors ranging from Student Book Store and Rapid Transit to Dell and Nike to provide donations that allow THON to cut down on over $100,000 of expenses throughout the year. I oversee all of THON’s printing needs, including everything from corporate packets and solicitation cards to the THON 2018 logo banner displayed on stage during THON Weekend. Finally, and most importantly, I lead a committee of 19 dedicated captains working to acquire hundreds of in-kind donations and efficiently manage/distribute supplies to every committee for all pre-THON events and THON weekend.

What do you want to implement in your position this year that’s unique and differs from years past?

I had a big initial goal upon starting my position of getting SL’s inventory, supply request, and donor information online. I believe that tracking data is the key to understanding our success as a committee and making meaningful decisions to positively impact the future of THON. With the help of the Technology Committee, I was able to implement a Supply Request Management System, inventory page, and donor/donation tracking onto think.thon.org over the summer. My hope is that this information will give future Supply Logistics Committees untapped insight into an ever-growing donor bank and allow SL to begin forecasting supplies that will be needed in future years through data from the Supply Request Management System.

What makes the Supply Logistics committee so cool, fun, and/or important?

My favorite part about the Supply Logistics Committee is that we get to work directly with every single committee to impact every aspect of THON. Whether it is a teen night at Hershey, a donor reception, an inter-committee event, or Family Carnival – SL provides the supplies to allow over 50 pre-THON events and THON weekend to come to life. We have the unique ability to impact all of THON’s stakeholders, which is very special!

What are the overall goals you hope to reach with your committee for THON 2018?

First, I want to engage our donors and bring them closer to THON’s mission than ever before. Not only do I want to ensure our donors are being properly thanked and benefited, also that they understand the tangible impact they are making on our organization through their in-kind donation. I want our donors to become life-long supporters and partners of THON. In regards to inventory, I want to establish a strong foundation of Supply Request data to eventually allow SL to effectively forecast supplies that will be needed year after year. Through forecasting, future donor contacts can work to acquire donations far in advance, allowing THON to further cut down on our internal costs.

Why do you THON?

My reason is ever changing, but first and foremost I THON because I believe that we will be the generation to eradicate childhood cancer. I THON for the day we dance in celebration, and I know that day will be in our lifetimes. I am inspired every day by the most courageous warriors who have so fearlessly battled cancer, but it is my dream that no child has to ever face this battle and no parent ever has to bury their child.

What’s your favorite THON memory?

My favorite memory is from THON 2017 when my co-captain and I announced the winners of the THON Raffle Dell Tablet and trip to Europe on stage at the start of the Final Four. I was able to do a line dance on stage, and then share with the BJC how many hours of child life therapy and patient care services the THON Raffle was able to fund. Looking out into a crowd of over 15,000 individuals united in one mission was an indescribable experience; I couldn’t have imagined a better way to culminate my position and truly feel the impact I had made on the THON community.

Per Onward State tradition, if you could be any dinosaur, which one would you be and why?

I would be an Ornithopods since they were one of the most common dinosaurs (which means I would have a lot of friends to hang out with) and they are vegetarian, just like me!