Name: Ryan Baldwin

Major: Computer Science

Minor: Mathematics

Previous THON Experience:

THON 2022: Dancer Relations committee member
THON 2023: Rules & Regulations committee member
THON 2024: Technology Captain

What made you want to apply for a director position for THON 2025?

I wanted to become a THON director because of my love for the organization and my passion to make a difference. From my first moment as a THON volunteer as a Dancer Relations committee member to being a Technology captain last year, I have loved every moment.

Getting to meet amazing people all coming together to make a difference and getting to see the impact THON makes on the families motivates me to be as involved as I can. I want to be a THON director because I believe in the cause and I know that one day we will dance in celebration!

What are your responsibilities as a THON Director?

As the Technology director for THON 2025, my job is to oversee our development teams: Dash, THINK, Special Projects, Systems, and THON.org. Together these teams help develop and maintain THON’s technological infrastructure. While most of the technical work is handled by each team respectively, my responsibilities are to provide guidance, support to each captain and the teams, and help showcase what the Technology committee can do to help other committees and THON as a whole.

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

One of the things that I hope to implement is more education on how our technological features work, which can greatly improve THON Weekend and the users’ experience throughout the year!

What makes your committee so cool, fun, and/or important?

The people of technology are incredible. Every volunteer on the technology committee wants to use their technical abilities to help families through their journey with childhood cancer. This is something that I find very fun because we are able to merge our passions of both technology and THON to make an impact.

What are the overall goals you hope to reach with your committee for THON 2025?

There are many goals I hope to reach with my committee for THON 2025. One of my focuses is to work with committees and volunteers to learn what they need to get out of our systems and how best to design them for their benefit.

Why do you THON?

I THON because I believe that one day, we will dance in celebration. Every step I take in this journey is a step closer to helping make that dream a reality for families battling childhood cancer. The people I’ve met, the stories I’ve heard, and the resilience I’ve witnessed have only made me more committed. THON is more than just one weekend, it truly is a yearlong effort and I couldn’t be more excited to be involved.

What’s your favorite THON memory?

My favorite part of THON every year is the very beginning of THON Weekend when everyone stands and THON Weekend begins. I love seeing everyone united in one goal ready to make a change in the world. There is a lot that happens throughout the entire year at many different events, and seeing this physical representation of everyone united is an amazing and very special moment.

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

I would be a brachiosaurus because they have the ultimate height advantage and travel in herds.