Name: Areea Rahman

Major: Applied data science and economics

Previous THON Experience: First-Year Committee Member, Finance Corporate and Matching Captain, and Finance Data Analytics Coordinator

What made you want to apply for a director position for THON 2026?

Over the last two years, I have had amazing leadership from my directors, and they have sparked my passion! I knew that I had a chance to do the same through this opportunity. I had a great perspective on THON from the two years I was a captain, and I wanted to use it to enact change as a member of the executive committee and to support our mission. I also just wanted to utilize the skills I gained, bring new ideas and perspective, lead others through the examples I have been given, and give back to an organization that has given me so much.  

What are your responsibilities as a THON Director?

The Finance Committee supports the THON community in its fundraising efforts by securely processing all monetary donations to uphold the integrity of THON. In addition to tracking all organization totals, finance also finalizes the THON Weekend total, the monetary representation of the THON community’s year-long fundraising efforts.

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

Integrating data analytics has been one of my passions in this position. I have been able to build upon previous years and also help create infrastructure that helps us automate our benchmarking and tracking for future years, so that we can easily understand key takeaways from the data we collect and use it for decision-making.

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

We are able to finalize the THON Weekend total, which is a culmination of the entire THON community’s effort. It truly is a physical representation of the hard work everyone has put into the year, and it is a surreal feeling to see it all come together and share that with the rest of the world.

What are the overall goals you hope to reach with your committee for THON 2026?

I hope that we leave this organization better than we found it. For my committee, I truly want each captain to leave their mark, think of new ideas, and better this organization in any way that we can. Whether that is automating a process to increase efficiency, or creating a new volunteer mentorship program to inspire the next generation of THON captains, I want my committee to positively impact the culture of THON.

Why do you THON?

I THON so that every family and child has access to the healthcare they deserve, without worrying about the financial burdens of their treatment. To have the opportunity to help these families feel a sense of community and to provide them with access to the best care regardless of their financial status continues to ignite my passion for THON. More than that, THON stands as a symbol of hope for the future and is a community for families to lean on during one of the most isolating and difficult times of their lives. Hearing the stories of each family impacted by THON reminds me of my experiences and the importance of providing these resources and community to others. 

What’s your favorite THON memory?

Something fun about the Finance Committee is that we get to run down to the floor once the total reveal goes up to celebrate with our director. My sophomore year as a captain, I ran down without even seeing the actual total. It wasn’t until I got down to the floor that I stared at the screen and saw $16.9 million! I was so shocked, but it was such an amazing feeling, and celebrating with my committee was so much fun!

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

Pterodactyl.