by Sarah Daly
The IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon recently announced the THON 2012 Overall Committee. After going through numerous applications and a round of interviews, Overall Chairperson Elaine Tanella picked her team of individuals to represent the 14 THON committees. Here’s a rundown of the committee.
Overall Chairperson
Name: Elaine Tanella
Year: Senior
Major: Bioengineering
Hometown: Garden City, N.Y.
Past THON experience: Atlas member (THON 2008), Communications Committee member and Atlas dancer (THON 2009), Communications captain (THON 2010), Communications Overall (THON 2011)
Goal for THON 2012: ‘I hope to increase awareness about The Four Diamonds Fund and how we are working together to truly conquer pediatric cancer. Many THON supporters and volunteers do not know about the extensive cancer-fighting research that is made possibly by The Fund.’
Fun fact: Elaine didn’t have her first PB&J sandwich until senior year of high school!
Overall Communications Chairperson
Name: Charlotte Kohl
Year: Sophomore
Major: Political Science
Hometown: Basking Ridge, N.J.
Past THON experience: Rules and Regulations Committee member (THON 2010), Communications captain (THON 2011), member of special interest organization Atlas, fundraising with her sorority Pi Beta Phi
Goal for THON 2012: “I would like to continue to make strides for more students to be involved and find ways for all volunteers to work together, including networking between organizations and more inter-committee communication. I also hope to better educate volunteers and supporters on who and what THON is assisting. Above all, I hope to always bring our fundraising efforts back to the cause of doing everything For The Kids.”
Fun fact: She won “The Most Talkative” superlative in high school.
Overall Donor and Alumni Relations Chairperson
Name: Anuj Upadhyay
Year: Junior
Major: Chemical Engineering
Hometown: Mechanicsburg, Pa.
Past THON experience: Morale Committee member (THON 2009), Ohana Executive Team member and Donor Relations Committee member (THON 2010), Donor and Alumni Relations captain (THON 2011)
Goal for THON 2012: “I really want to help THON grow by building solid relationships with all of THON’s donors in order to successfully support the families both emotionally and financially.“
Fun fact: Anuj is the first DAR Overall to have served on a committee first. He is a Penn State Lion Ambassador.
Overall Entertainment Chairperson
Name: Kinjal Mathur
Year: Junior
Major: Biology
Hometown: Hockessin, Del.
Past THON experience: Morale Committee member (THON 2009, 2010); Entertainment captain (THON 2011)
Goal for THON 2012: “I want to promote awareness of pediatric cancer so more people want to fight against this terrible disease. I hope that as a THON community we can grow and band together to be there every step of the way for the kids and their families.”
Fun (or, in this case, not-so-fun) fact: He is allergic to chlorine.
Overall Family Relations Chairperson
Name: Kaylee Tully
Year: Junior
Hometown: Robbinsville, N.J.
Major: Supply Chain, with a minor in IST
Past THON Experience: Hospitality Committee member (THON 2009), Supply Logistics captain (THON 2010), Family Relations captain (THON 2011)
Goal for THON 2012: “To help this philanthropy grow through more outreach and awareness. I believe it is so crucial for our captains, committee members, organizations and the rest of the THON community to truly understand what pediatric cancer is, the different types of cancer, and the innovative treatments Hershey is able to provide for the kids. With this knowledge, we can better understand what each Four Diamonds family is going through and provide the best emotional support for them. We can also share this knowledge outside of the THON community so others can understand and become a part of our fight! While we grow in support, I also want to ensure that THON maintains a personal relationship with each and every family.”
Fun fact: She once got a bruised eye and concussion after running into a rock wall while playing soccer in her high school’s gym.
Overall Finance Chairperson
Name: Vicki Marone
Year: Junior
Major: Mathematics and Energy, Business and Finance
Hometown: Newton, Mass.
Past THON experience: Special Events Committee member (THON 2009), Finance captain (THON 2011), dancer for Atlas (THON 2011)
Goal for THON 2012: “Help THON continue to succeed in its mission of supporting our families financially and emotionally as well as continue to improve the finance committee to allow us to keep up with THON’s outstanding growth.”
Fun fact: Vicki was born in Victoria, Australia.
Overall Hospitality Chairperson
Name: Tommy Scharnitz
Year: Junior
Major: Biology
Hometown: Northampton, Pa.
Past THON experience: Morale Committee member (2010) and Hospitality captain (2011)
Goal for THON 2012: “Our main focus is to continue improving THON in every way possible, no matter how large or small the decision is. The 2011 Overall Committee made huge improvements, and I know they want us to do even more than they did as we continue our fight For The Kids. FTK is behind every single decision we will make this year, and we will do whatever we can to make the lives of the Four Diamonds children and their families as healthy and happy as possible; they are the reason we THON.”
Fun fact: Tommy hugged Taylor Swift at her concert at the BJC two years ago and says he is still waiting for her to write a song about him.
Overall Merchandise Chairperson
Name: Jackie Swerdon
Year: Senior
Major: Supply Chain and Information Sciences
Hometown: West Chester, Pa.
Past THON experience: OPP and Morale Committee member, Morale captain (THON 2011)
Goal for THON 2012: “I hope to continue to spread awareness for THON and pediatric cancer, to help these families through the hardest time in their lives, to make this the best THON yet, and to truly make a difference in the lives of the Four Diamonds families.”
Fun fact: She loves everything Batman.
Overall Morale Chairperson
Name: Genifer Goldsmith
Year: Senior
Major: Psychology with a Neuroscience option
Hometown: South Brunswick, N.J.
Past THON experience: Morale Committee member (THON 2009, 2010), Morale captain (THON 2011), and involved since freshman year through the Association of Residence Hall Students, for which she served as THON Chair in 2010
Goal for THON 2012: “I hope to spread my passion for THON and inspire others to get involved and show them how the impact of THON can change them and help them grow as a person. I hope to improve THON through uniting the community and working with the Overall Committee, captains, committee members and every single volunteer to make THON as effective as possible. Lastly, I hope to leave the future of THON with a better foundation than the one that currently exists. “
Fun fact: She thought she was a detective when she was little and would go everywhere with a journal taking notes and ‘solving crimes.’
Overall OPPerations Chairperson
Name: Will Martin
Year: Junior
Major: Communication Science and Disorders
Hometown: Indiana, Pa.
Past THON Experience: OPP Committee member (THON 2009), OPP captain (THON 2010, 2011)
Goal for THON 2012: “I hope to uphold the traditions of THON’s past and move into the organization’s bright future. Every day always thinking about the kids and taking one step closer to a cure!”
Fun Fact: Will’s hometown is “The Christmas Tree Capital of the World!”
Overall Public Relations Chairperson
Name: Kirsten Quisenberry
Year: Senior
Major: Graphic Design with minors in French and Psychology
Hometown: Wexford, Pa.
Past THON experience: Communications Committee member (THON 2009), Public Relations captain (THON 2010), Family Relations captain (2011), and member since freshman year of Atlas, for which she danced in THON 2009
Goal for THON 2012: “I hope to help make THON 2012 the best year yet for the students, donors, alumni, families and, especially, the Four Diamonds children. As Public Relations Overall, I hope to increase positive coverage of THON nationally and locally. I want to spread THON’s message as far as possible.”
Fun fact: She loves to fly and even had the chance to fly a small plane over the Outer Banks in North Carolina last summer.
Overall Rules and Regulations Chairperson
Name: Mairead Hanna
Year: Senior
Major: French and Francophone Studies, Human Development and Family Studies
Hometown: Media, Pa.
Past THON experience: Rules and Regulations Committee member (THON 2009), Rules and Regulations captain (THON 2010, 2011)
Goal for THON 2012: “I hope to provide the best love and support possible to the Four Diamonds children and families, and to work with all THON volunteers to make this THON the best THON. I hope to help create a positive committee member experience so as to find THON’s future leaders, the ones who will continue to help THON grow and move toward the cure.”
Fun fact: Mairead once penned her own version of a Harry Potter novel under the name MC Hanna.
Overall Special Events Chairperson
Name: Becky Mayes
Year: Junior
Major: Sociology, Minor: Psychology
Hometown: Hershey, Pa.
Past THON experience: Special Events (THON 2009) and Morale (THON 2010) Committee member, Special Events developmental captain (THON 2011)
Goal for THON 2012: “I hope to facilitate unity and hope throughout the THON community through all our year-long events.”
Fun fact: Becky has a very extensive Christmas sock collection.
Overall Supply Logistics Chairperson
Name: Pat Howley
Year: Senior
Major: Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management
Hometown: Cranberry Township, Pa.
Past THON experience: HOS Committee member (THON 2010), HOS captain (THON 2011)
Goal for THON 2012: “Improve THON as a whole so that we can raise awareness of the Four Diamonds Fund to benefit the kids and make THON 2012 the most successful THON yet! FTK!”
Fun fact: He is related to the MVP of Superbowl V!
Overall Technology Chairperson
Name: Andrew Ogburn
Year: Junior
Major: Information Sciences and Technology
Hometown: Hickory, Pa.
Past THON experience: Entertainment Committee member (THON 2010), Entertainment captain (THON 2011)
Goal for THON 2012: “I hope to move THON forward in a direction it’s never been. I want more people to know about THON than ever before. I want to affect the lives of all those who are involved with THON: the captains, the committee members, the families and, most of all, the kids. I want to push the use of technology to promote and assist our fight against this terrible disease as it never has before. I want to get us one step closer to curing pediatric cancer.”
Fun fact: Andrew once got lost on a field trip at the zoo in elementary school. The reason? “The monkeys were soooo distracting.”
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