College of Communications students have been producing multimedia stories from the floor of THON all weekend. Check out a few great ones-- including a story from our own Becky Perlow-- after the jump.
Those present in the Bryce Jordan Center in the dark, early hours of Saturday morning (between approximately 4 and 7 a.m.) may have looked on in wonder at the young man featured on the big screens pulling some seriously rad dance moves. Heck, if you saw him you might have even been one of the many people trying to mimic him.
We at Onward State had the opportunity to talk to Mike "Wiley" Barnes Saturday night. Wiley is an initiate of Alpha Kappa Psi and was at the BJC to support the fraternity's dancers. And he has decided to support them, as well as the rest of the 708 dancers, by doing a little dancing of his own.
"Since the people dancing for THON have to be here for 46 hours, I'm going to be here as much as I can and I'll dance 10 times as hard," Wiley said of his inspiration for giving his all in the stands. He added that he was, in fact, the very first person in line before the doors opened for THON 2011.
Social media has been instrumental in spreading the message of THON, and not just during the one weekend a year that celebrates the culmination of 365 days of preparation. How often does it seem that a celebrity is bringing to light the great cause that is Penn State's Dance Marathon, highlighting our accomplishment as the nation's largest student-run philanthropy? Hell, at this point, her continued advocacy of THON is probably Khloe Kardashian's lone redeeming asset.
There are big heads at THON, and no, not the kind that are filled with arrogance and hot air. Onward State's own John Tecce takes a moment from THONing to explain how Betty White and baby Carlos from the Hangover made it to the event.
For THON veterans and newcomers alike, the event is quite a spectacle. Yet amongst all of the sights, there are a handful that stand out. Here are five things to keep an eye out for during this year’s THON.
Want to know what’s going on RIGHT NOW at THON 2011? Follow our live blog for up to the minute (or so) information. Check it out after the jump.