UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Six students from the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) were among the 700 dancers at THON 2024. The event raised a record-breaking $16.9 million, surpassing last year’s record by nearly $2 million. 

The students danced and stood without sleep for 46 hours — from 6 p.m. February 16 through 4 p.m. February 18 — at the Bryce Jordan Center.

The College of IST sent a team of six dancers. 

• Lexie Gill, a fourth-year student majoring in cybersecurity operations and analytics, represented Kappa Kappa Gamma, serving as primary chair for two years. Lexie is an IST Diplomat. 
• Kevin McCrea, a fourth-year student majoring in cybersecurity operations and analytics, represented Phi Beta Lambda, serving as development captain. Kevin is also involved in the CyberCertifications Club. 
• Nora O’Toole, a fourth-year student majoring in cybersecurity operations and analytics, represented Lion’s Paw. Nora is the University Park Undergraduate Association’s student body president and a member of the Presidential Leadership Academy. 
• David Richards, a second-year student majoring in enterprise technology integration, represented Schreyer Honors College. David is also a member of the Presidential Leadership Academy, a manager for the Penn State football team and an IST Diplomat. 
• Kimberly Winters is a fourth-year student majoring in cybersecurity analytics and operations. Kim is a learning assistant in the College of IST and active in the Competitive Cybersecurity Organization, Women in Information Science and Technology and A-7 Benefiting THON. 
• Austin Whitson, a fourth-year student majoring in cybersecurity analytics and operations, is the outgoing director of the IST Diplomats. 

IST students contributed behind the scenes as well, serving as members of the THON Technology Committee. The committee manages all facets of technology involved with the event to enable THON to spread its mission, raise funds, track donations and host events at scale. 

• Andrew Maier, a fourth-year student majoring in cybersecurity analytics and operations, served as the technology director for THON 2024. Andrew has served as an IST learning assistant and was a peer tutoring co-coordinator. 
• Sydney Vachino, a third-year student majoring in cybersecurity analytics and operations and Schreyer Honors student, served as co-captain of the Technology Committee. Sydney is an IST Diplomat and a member of the Order of the Sword & Shield National Honor Society and the Association of Women in Computing. 
• Josh Merrill, a fourth-year student majoring in cybersecurity analytics and operations, served as co-captain of the Technology Committee. Josh is a member of the Competitive Cybersecurity Organization and an IST peer tutor. 

>>>See photos of IST students at THON 2024. 

THON, the world’s largest student-run philanthropy, raises millions of dollars each year for Four Diamonds, funding pediatric cancer research and supporting children and families fighting childhood cancer. Since 1977, THON has raised more than $219 million for Four Diamonds. To learn more about THON and its impact, visit thon.org.

By: Mary Fetzer

Photo credit: Jena Soult/Penn State