After four years of THONs, our seniors finally had their last year. With $18.8 million raised For The Kids, some of our staffers shared their thoughts on their final THON, from dancing, standing in the stands, and working on press row.

Emma Bannister:

THON weekend is one of the best weekends at Penn State. The yearlong fundraising efforts leading up to one incredible weekend truly bring all of Penn State together for something bigger than ourselves.
I had the honor of dancing in THON this year, something I have always wanted to do since my freshman year. I was registered as an IDC, and being a dancer was an extremely rewarding experience. Through the highs and lows, I always remembered my “why” and always appreciated the ongoing support from other dancers, visitors on the floor, and all of the students cheering from the stands.
THON is an amazing tradition put on by Penn State students who want to make a difference in the world. It always amazes me how many students come together to raise money and awareness for a cause that has sadly impacted so many people. I will cherish my last THON forever, and I am so grateful to be part of a university that works so hard to make a change together.

McKenna Murphy:

As I am writing this, I still can’t believe that this was my last THON. I participated in a THON committee my first two years at Penn State, but for the last two years, I have written for Onward State on press row. This year, I was able to tap into my creativity and write so many articles that I normally would have never gotten the opportunity to write. There is no other time that I would be making trivia quizzes, crossword puzzles, and MadLibs for my articles. One of the most memorable parts of the night was being able to interview a dancer pair who instilled in me the importance of centering the THON kids throughout every second of the weekend, and inspired me to do the same.

Despite this being my last year, I was still overwhelmed with the magnitude of this event and just how many volunteers, spectators, and organizations it takes to make this event possible. Covering for Onward State these past three years has been a privilege and an opportunity I am extremely grateful for. Being able to use my writing to cover THON is extremely rewarding and fulfilling as both a writer and a Penn State student. I am very sad that this was my last THON, as I will probably still wake up in the middle of the night for the rest of my life, worried that I slept through my THON shift. But, even though this was my last, I like to believe that this was also my best.

Fernando Martinez Ruiz De Esparza:

I still can’t believe that all four years of THON have come to an end, and I’m happy that I got to experience this incredible event all four years.

When I came to Penn State, I didn’t know anything about THON, and after I went to my first THON, it became one of the best events I’ve ever been to as a Penn State student. I got involved with THON through my involvement with the Sports Business Club, and the more I got involved, the more I enjoyed going to THON. My experiences would just get better the more I went to THON.

This year’s THON was the best one I went to (except for the Line Dance). From supporting the dancers of SBC, working on press row, and experiencing events like the Pep Rally was nothing short of spectacular. Along with that, being able to go down to the floor to interview dancers, learning their stories about when they THON, and doing all the standing for a great cause was all worth it. Despite all the struggles to keep going, I don’t regret spending all that time standing at THON.

Now, I can admit that THON was one of the greatest things in my Penn State experience. It’s bittersweet that I’ll never get to experience THON as a student anymore, but I’ll never forget the memories that it brought me. Thank you, THON. For The Kids Forever.

Jack Anderson-Jussen:

This was hands down the best THON in my four years here. It was the first year that I was able to spend an extended period of time on press row, and it was honestly such a highlight of my weekend. From the kick-off to the very end, I was just so overwhelmed with gratitude and joy that I was able to spend time with my friends from Onward State, talk to other staffers whom I haven’t had as much of an opportunity to talk to, and really connect with the other visual staffers who were on the floor taking pictures. I feel like I got to know everybody so much better, and it was a great bonding moment for a lot of the staff.

Struggling through something together seems to have a way of bringing people closer together, and I definitely felt that this THON. While I only did 36 hours, I definitely had a hard time at times staying with it. It was a great thing, though, to be supported by everyone else on the Onward State team during those points. Just when we would be feeling a little sluggish, someone new would rotate in to press row with a new level of energy that seemed to bring all of us up.

I also feel so grateful that I was able to help, even in a small way, in promoting this great event that has such a positive impact on others. By writing articles and sharing photos, I feel like we play a part in inspiring the next generation of people to come and volunteer their time at THON. Whether it’s being on a committee, covering it for the news, or just editing photos, there are countless ways you can get involved with THON and help make the world a better place.

CJ Gill:

Start to finish, THON 2026 was a bit underwhelming compared to past THONs. The final number was outstanding, and in the end, that’s all that really matters. From a full weekend and performance standpoint, however, it felt like it could have been better. The Line Dance was very mediocre compared to past ones, and it’s meant to give everyone at the Bryce Jordan Center an energy boost, but it just didn’t do that this year. Pep Rally was solid as it always is, but the national act wasn’t stellar like it has been in years past. Go Go Gadjet once again blew the roof off the place, and Final Four didn’t miss its mark. THON is always a moving experience, but this year wasn’t my favorite as a student.

Ashley Connington:

Four THONs gone! I can’t believe my final THON came so quickly; it’s always such a magical experience. This was the least that I was in the stands, which made me upset during the many concerts of THON, but we made sure to stay dancing in press row! My main complaint is just that I wish the Line Dance had a better beat drop to keep spirits up, but all the performances made up for it. I’m going to miss THON, and might have to come back for it next year!