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THON 2023 From ‘A’ To ‘Z’

There are lots of letters floating around the stands of the BJC during THON, but they don’t quite spell out all that THON is. We put together an “A” to “Z” list of all that has happened so far during THON 2023.

A — Adam And The Armadillos

Sunday morning was jamming with a performance from Adam and the Armadillos. The band played some hits during Country Hour.

B — BeReal

The hit social media platform even made it into this year’s line dance, so you best believe Saturday’s BeReal (and possibly Sunday’s) went crazy.

C — Chicken Baskets

A Penn State sporting event classic. Dinner time? Breakfast? Time doesn’t exist in the BJC, so eat a chicken basket whenever your heart (and stomach) desires.

D — “Dancer Relations Captains, To The stage!”

E — Energy

Staying awake and keeping your devices charged are probably the top priorities during THON Weekend. Luckily, the BJC has plenty of food to fuel your weekend, as well as multiple device charging stations so your device will never die. Dancers don’t drink caffeine, but spectators can grab a cup of joe on the concourse.

F — For The Kids

This is why we THON. For The Kids. FTK.

G — Greek Letters

All the Greek orgs commissioned their craftiest members to make some impressive letters to hold throughout the weekend. From absolutely adorable themes to ones honoring the Jordan year, the colors and lights adorning them all put stars in our eyes. Kudos to everyone holding them up. You guys rock!

H — Human Tunnel

Dancers were given a warm welcome to the BJC with a human tunnel Friday afternoon. The tradition is the perfect good luck charm for dancers as they head into a long weekend.

I — IFC

A philanthropic dance marathon was first proposed by Interfraternity Council President Bill Lear in 1973 and to this day, IFC still plays a huge role in THON.

J — Jordan Year

THON 2023 is the Jordan year, of course referring to basketball legend Michael Jordan. It was featured in the line dance and was the theme for Fiji/Sigma Kappa and Delta Zeta/Sigma Pi.

K — Kraut

Brad Kraut took to the stage Friday evening for a lip sync battle, and he won with his high-energy rendition of “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson. Plus, he’s a friend of the blog.

L — Line Dance

FTK, run it back // BJC is BOOMIN’, and that’s an understatement!

This year’s line dance featured all of the pop culture and Penn State references you could hope for. Cane’s sauce, finals on the weekend, the World Cup, Chad Powers — those Dancer Relations captains truly hit all the biggest. If you ask us, the line dance is one of our favorite parts of THON.

M — Magic

This year’s THON theme is “Foster the Magic,” which represents the magic that comes from THON’s mission. Whether it’s the magic from a THON child ringing the bell at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital or the magic dancers feel from an arena full of their biggest supporters, THON truly is a magical thing.

N — Natasha Bedingfield

Friday night’s performance from Natasha Bedingfield gave everyone in the BJC a pocketful of sunshine. Her surprise set was absolutely electric and got everyone up and groovin’.

O — Onward State

We just had to include Penn State’s favorite student-run news outlet on this list. Our amazing staff is putting out a ton of THON content over the weekend. On top of following along on our site, check out our Instagram, Facebook, @OnwardState, @THONwardState, and our TikTok.

P — Pep Rally

Saturday night was action-packed, complete with a high-energy dance competition between athletic teams, special guests, and 46 one-armed Nittany Lion push-ups. Women’s lacrosse took home the Pep Rally win, but there were some impressive showings from men’s gymnastics, women’s soccer, and football, too.

Q — Queues

Bathrooms, water fountains, food stands, entering the BJC — THON lines don’t stop. That’s what happens when the BJC is packed.

R — Roll It Out

If you look closely at the BJC floor, you’ll likely see lots and lots of tennis balls. While great for playing catch with friends to keep them entertained, the tennis balls are especially useful for rolling out sore muscles.

S — Slides of Strength

OPP lays out a big black mat and covers it in baby powder, perfect for sliding down. Committee members offer massages to those who slide.

T — THON Total

While we may not know the total now, the total reveal at the end of THON is truly an electric moment. THON is the largest student-run philanthropy, and seeing how much the community cares about the cause warms the heart like nothing else.

U — UV Index: 0

We are #LockedIn at the BJC. Time doesn’t exist, and the sun doesn’t either. No need to worry about bad weather or bringing sunscreen, folks.

V — Video Streaming

Thanks to 46Live, the entirety of THON is livestreamed online so people all over the world can watch from home and join in on all the festivities.

W — Whethan

The Saturday night surprise performance was a DJ set from artist and producer Whethan. His set following Pep Rally turned the BJC into a flashy rave and got the crowd going with remixes and original beats.

X – (E)Xcitement

There are lots of things to be excited about at THON. From the Pep Rally to the total reveal and all the little performances and games in between, there’s just so much happiness. We hope your THON Weekend has been as exciting as ours!

Y — Yoga

Stretching is a must for dancers, and what better way to destress and get loose than some yoga on the floor? All standing, of course.

Z — Zamboni

OPP’s MOPPing time always brings a smile to our faces because we get to see the mini Zambonis that mop the floor. They do such a good job, too.

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About the Author

Mackenna Yount

Mackenna is a junior food science major from Manitou Springs, Colorado, and is one of Onward State's associate editors. She loves food, is addicted to coffee, and can give you random facts or bad jokes that you didn't ask for. Ask her to bake gluten-free goodies so she has an excuse to try out new cupcake flavors. Mackenna can be contacted via Twitter @mackennayount (especially if you want to show off your best dad jokes) or you can shoot her an email at [email protected].

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