Four Penn State New Kensington THON dancers rock BJC

Lauren Richards, Erin Prager, Kelsie Nury, Joe Mandak, and Andrew Holodnik are all smiles before driving to THON. Photo by Penn State New Kensington Student Life.

Joe Mandak's body slumped back into the arms of his THON moralers.

He was beginning to faint after dancing for 45 and a half hours when Penn State New Kensington moralers slowly lowered him to the floor. EMTs stretchered him away and into an ambulance a few minutes later.

Mandak had become severely dehydrated and exhausted from dancing for so long.

“I hope I didn’t kill the momentum for anyone,” Mandak said.

New Kensington’s student section fell silent as Mandak lie motionless. But instead of killing the weekend’s momentum, it brought everyone closer together.

“I think a really defining moment was whenever Joe wasn’t doing well, and all of New Kensington was cheering his name,” said New Kensington THON dancer Erin Prager. “Then, people not from New Kensington were cheering him on, too. It really defined a real THON family.”

Prior to Mandak’s dance till he dropped saga, New Kensington’s THON dancers were living a dream.

Each dancer – Mandak, Prager, Keslie Nury and Andrew Holodnik – had determined months beforehand to become THON dancers.

Among other reasons, they each wanted to dance for children with cancer.

“I wanted to do everything I could do in my last year for THON,” Holodnik said.

THON dancer Q&A with Erin Prager

Erin Prager, a senior business administration major, danced at this year's THON.

What motivated you to become a dancer?

Being involved last year really opened my eyes to how big THON really is.

This was my last THON, so I wanted to go big and be a dancer.

THON dancer Q&A with Andy Holodnik

Andrew Holodnik, who is studying administration of justice, danced at this year's THON.

What motivated you to become a dancer?

I’ve done THON for four years, and this is kind of my last year. I wanted to experience this. Plus, we are at a branch campus that does not have a THON family, so I wanted to hang out with the kids and realize we’re making a difference.

Also, I’ve had so much experience with pediatric cancer. My one cousin had leukemia, and one of my friend’s sons had neuroblastoma. So, I’ve realized what kids go through first hand.

I wanted to do everything I could do in my last year for THON. I’ve witnessed what it’s like to be a dancer. I think you see the true meaning of THON when you’re a dancer.

THON dancer Q&A with Kelsie Nury

Kelsie Nury, a freshman education major, danced at this year's THON.

What motivated you to become a dancer?

The people that danced last year kept talking about how amazing it was for them. Hearing them and they’re excitement about dancing was really motivating.

From our first meeting this year, I wanted the experience they had, so I just went for it and got it.

THON dancer Q&A with Joe Mandak III

Joe Mandak III, a senior communication major, danced at this year's THON.

What motivated you to become a dancer?

Basically, the passing of my grandfather motivated me. He died of throat cancer. I saw his pain and suffering, and he was on an incubator that kept him alive.

That hit me, and that’s how cancer began to play a role in my life. I can’t imagine a child going through that same thing.

After that, THON started popping up in the back of mind a lot. Someone had told me that being a dancer was so much more than just being there. I felt like I was really part of something, and the support of every dancer, child and New Kensington in the stands really passed my expectations.

THON's $10.68 million breaks record

Tables are set-up to serve dancers a meal.
Photo by Shawn Annarelli

I wish we never had to leave.

That is what I‘ll say when someone asks me about my experience at THON weekend.

The first minute

THON’s Overall Chairperson Elaine Tanella kicked off THON’s finale with a two-minute introduction before leading a 10-second countdown for dancers to stand up.

Everyone else stood and followed Tanella’s lead. When the dancers stood, the Bryce Jordan Center quaked. 

“I came to dance, dance, dance, dance,” hit the loudspeakers, and the 46-hour dance maraTHON was on.

An Introduction

Hello and welcome to my THON blog!

I'm Shawn Annarelli, a third-year journalism major who will report weekly news on Penn State's THON and occasionally write feature stories on children with cancer.

I'm going outside of my comfort zone with this blog. I have run a sports blog before. That and other sports reporting experiences have been rewarding, but I feel I need to switch it up and become more diverse.

I joined THON less than 24 hours ago. I've wanted to be a part of THON since I learned about it during my sophomore year at Penn State Behrend. Time spent in class, in newsrooms and at work always served as a buffer to me having the time to participate in THON.

I'm still doing all of those things, but I realized that if I join THON my greatest accomplishment at Penn State won't be graduating or writing a front page story.

It will be trying to make a difference in a child's life.