Name: Eddie Issertell

Major: General Science with minors in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Past THON Experience 

THON 2018 Special Event Committee Member 
THON 2019 THON Nation Captain 
THON 2020 Alumni Engagement Director 

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

When I was 11 years old, I ran the Philadelphia Half Marathon. 

What made you want to apply for THON 2021’s Alumni Engagement Director position? 

I wanted to be a director so that I could pour my entire heart into the organization that has brought me so much joy and love during my time at Penn State. THON has the unique ability to illuminate the darkest of moments, and I want to ensure that the light that this community produces for so many children and families never dims.

I have come to realize the profound impact THON can have not only for the children and families impacted by childhood cancer but also for the volunteers who work day in and day out to ensure its success. I wanted to become the Director of Alumni Engagement so that I could inspire every THON volunteer, past and present, to continue their fight beyond four years at Penn State.  

What are your responsibilities as Alumni Engagement Director? 

As the Director of Alumni Engagement, I am the main liaison between THON and Penn State alumni. I work with the Penn State Alumni Association here in State College, as well as Alumni Groups all across the country who raise funds and spread awareness for THON each year.

I also serve on the board of directors of the Dance Marathon Alumni Interest Group (DMAIG) where I work with a passionate group of Penn State alumni who continue to spread THON’s mission after graduation. Additionally, I lead a team of 15 Captains who work to further many of our different alumni initiatives and effectively communicate these opportunities with our Penn State alumni. 

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

This year, the Alumni Engagement Committee is working to ensure that we are taking advantage of the virtual space to reach alumni far outside the boundaries of State College. One way we are doing this is by planning an alumni reunion series leading up to THON Weekend. Each of four virtual events will highlight a different era of THON’s past. We will encourage alumni to reunite with their past committees and organizations to watch the events together.  

What makes the Alumni Engagement Committee so cool, fun, and/or important? 

The Alumni Engagement Committee is important because as THON moves to a more sustainable fundraising model, we will be relying on our alumni more and more to be ambassadors throughout their communities around the world. The committee is also a lot of fun because you get to hear stories about how THON has developed into the amazing event that it is today. I have come to realize the lasting impact THON can have not only for the children and families impacted by childhood cancer but also for the volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure its success. 

What are the overall goals you hope to reach with your committee for THON 2021? 

My overall goal is to improve the ways that we offer alumni to get engaged in THON. We have worked to both create new initiatives as well as improve existing ones so that alum can be involved at the level that works best for them at this time. I also am working to improve the relationship student organizations have with their alumni by providing more resources for them to thrive.  

Why do you THON? 

THON has the unique ability to illuminate the darkest of moments. In my two years of involvement as a THON volunteer, I have been blessed with the opportunity to see firsthand how a community of students, friends, and alumni has the potential to produce more light in a single moment than any one individual could in a lifetime. I THON so that I can pour my entire heart and soul into ensuring that the light that this community produces for so many children and families never dims. THON has been a light in my life for the past two years, and I am committed to ensuring that every THON stakeholder sees that same light all year long. 

What’s your favorite THON memory? 

My favorite THON memory was during the THON 2020 total reveal. I had the opportunity to raise the total with the rest of the THON 2020 Executive Committee. When the total was raised, I was overcome with emotion. The success of the year embodied all the hard work that the entire THON Community put forth leading up to and during THON Weekend. THON has faced many challenges in the past few years, and to me, the total of THON 2020 proved that despite these challenges, the THON Community always finds a way to grow and succeed.  

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

I’d be a pterodactyl because they were always my favorite as a kid and I would love to fly.