Name: Samantha Koon

Major: Master’s of Education Theory and Policy

Past THON Experience
THON 2017: Club Water Polo THON Member
THON 2018: Rules and Regulations Committee Member
THON 2019: Public Relations Administrative Assistant
THON 2020: Public Relations Media Relations Lead; Club Water
Polo Family Relations Chair

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

I can solve a Rubik’s cube in under five minutes.

What made you want to apply for the Public Relations Director position for THON 2021?

My past involvement has prepared me to be a member of the Executive
Committee, but there is nothing that motivates me more than my wholehearted dedication to improving others’ quality of life. I have decided
to enter the field of education for the opportunity to give back to an institution that I have taken for granted, and I want to become a director to
give children the childhood they deserve.

The Public Relations committee’s mission to spread awareness of our efforts ensures that the magic of THON lives on and that our community of unconditional support continues to grow. The financial and emotional support that we provide families is unmatched, and I am so proud to be a member of an organization that aims to make the world a better place, one child at a time.

What are your responsibilities as the Public Relations Director?

Public Relations primarily aims to spread awareness of our efforts, to ensure that our families receive necessary emotional and financial support. We are responsible for gaining media coverage, keeping up to date on social media, protecting our brand, producing photo and video content, and more. I am fortunate to have a team of people with diverse and creative abilities, so we can create innovative ways to share our efforts with the rest of the world.

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

This year, more people have turned to the internet to look for information, and Public Relations has been able to take advantage of the growth of social media. We have worked on growing THON’s TikTok platform and are doing our best to keep up with current trends. Also, we have started focusing more on digital marketing to create advertisements on social media and through Google.

What makes the Public Relations Committee so cool, fun, and/or
important?

The Public Relations Committee is really unique because it is so multifaceted. Our jobs range from photography and production to graphic design and media relations, which means that we have a group of people with a variety of really cool skills. Also, many of the jobs on our committee offer space for creativity, which allows us to continue innovating new ways to share THON’s mission.

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

In a year of change, Public Relations has the opportunity to grow to share
our work with others. I hope that we will use social media, media relations, and other forms of outreach to educate others about childhood cancer and THON. Four Diamonds might only be able to serve people in Pennsylvania, but our goal to find a cure for childhood cancer extends around the world. I hope to show others that supporting THON does not have to be monetary, but can also be spreading awareness of our mission or supporting others in the THON Community.

Why do you THON?

I have been fortunate enough to get a high-quality education and pursue the career I am passionate about with a group of people to support me along the way and beyond. It was not until later in high school that I opened my eyes to the suffering in the world that I realized how much I have taken for granted and decided to spend my free time giving rather than taking.
Therefore, I have vowed to always give more than I have received and
THON has given me a chance to do so.

What’s your favorite THON memory?

My favorite THON memory is from a few years ago when the Water Polo
organization went to visit one of our families, The Wagners. Lori Wagner
told us a story about how our organization has supported them through and beyond their cancer journey. After going into remission, Britt still had a road to recovery after being in a wheelchair, but that only meant that the
Water Polo team wanted to support her even more. The Wagners had
come up to Penn State to see the annual alumni tournament, expecting only
to spectate. However, while being mindful of her physical limitations, the
team got Britt into the pool and helped her swim to score a goal.

This is the epitome of what emotional support looks like to me. Even though I was not present at the game, knowing that Lori trusted me enough to share part of her story only motivated me to work even harder to support families like theirs. The Water Polo organization helped Britt realized that cancer could not stop her from achieving her goals, and I do not want to stop contributing to THON until there is a cure that ensures that all children can achieve their goals as well.

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

To be honest, I had to search “coolest dinosaurs” on Google to find
an answer. After a quick search, I have decided that I would like to
be an Ankylosaurus because they have been compared to a
modern-day tank, and I think that would be pretty cool.