Before dancers embarked on their 46-hour journey, State College mayor Ezra Nanes took to the stage to announce some important news. He declared State College the “City of THON” for the 46 hours that dancers stand from Friday to Sunday in the Bryce Jordan Center.

It’s the 12th time State College has changed its name to honor THON. The tradition was started by former State College Mayor Elizabeth Goreham in 2015. We at Onward State can only help but think about an alternate timeline where Goreham chose a different name. We compiled a list of more fun names that the mayor could use for State College next time we THON.

Dance-y Valley

Happy Valley is a small, quiet town nestled between the Appalachian Mountains. This same small town turns into a dance festival in the middle of every winter. It is a catchy, yet appropriate name that captures THON, our community coming together in celebration. Dance-y Valley represents all the dancers who stand for a better world.

Diamond Town USA

Four Diamonds comes together to create one beautiful diamond one weekend of every year. No gem found anywhere else in the country has done more good in the world than the Four Diamonds. State College and Penn State are lucky to work with Four Diamonds. Changing the town name to Diamond Town, USA, in honor of their incredible work would be a very nice touch.

District 46

A name straight out of a Sci-Fi movie. District 46 gets its name from the 46 hours we THON for. The dystopian feel of the name is something that members of the community would be interested in.

Letterton – Letter Capital of the World

If you’re a letter person, then you’re in luck. Not many places in the world can say they have hundreds of large letters being held up for days. In Letterton, you find bedazzled, lit-up, woodcut, and beautifully painted letters. These only scratch the surface of the diversity of letters found in the BJC during THON.

For(t) Kid

Ft. Kid draws inspiration from forts turned cities like Ft. Lauderdale and Ft. Worth. A play on words of “For The Kids” should be an easy choice for Mayor Nanes.

Hopeville

Hope is the embodiment of why we THON. In Hopeville, the community gathers in good spirits, knowing that our efforts will one day change the world. The name embodies a community built on optimism, resilience, and a shared commitment to a positive future.

The name signifies more than just a location; it represents a “village”, the same village that it takes to change the world.