THON 2026: How Penn Staters can participate, engage and support

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — With THON 2026 just weeks away — Feb. 20-22 — Penn Staters everywhere are invited to be part of one of the University’s most inspiring traditions. From near and far, alumni, friends, students, and faculty and staff can engage with the world’s largest student-run philanthropy by tuning in, giving online, joining local events and taking part in the excitement of the Alumni Association-sponsored Pep Rally White Out at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Wherever you are, every Penn Stater can play a role in helping to conquer childhood cancer. You can show support by attending an event hosted by an alumni affiliate group, watching the livestream, or contributing to causes and teams that are meaningful to you.

Livestream

THON 2026 will feature a livestream, produced by the Bellisario College of Communications, so alumni can watch from around the world. Bookmark THON’s website for the 46-hour livestream.

Dance Marathon Alumni Interest Group

The Dance Marathon Alumni Interest Group (DMAIG) is one of the most active of the Alumni Association’s 275 affiliate groups. This passionate community of alumni raises awareness, volunteers time and provides philanthropic support to champion the efforts of THON.

DMAIG’s Hope from Coast to Coast virtual run is a great way to get involved. This year-long initiative leading up to THON enables Penn Staters to support THON anytime while working toward personal goals and includes options like a fitness meetup and a 46-Day virtual fitness challenge. Since its inception in 2016, alumni have collectively run over 6,800 miles and donated over $140,000 to THON through this annual event.

Visit DMAIG’s website for more info and to learn how you can advocate, support and become a champion for THON.

Alumni dancers

One of the most visible ways that alumni can stay engaged with THON is by dancing. THON 2026 will feature six alumni dancers, representing DMAIG.

Brandon Crockford, class of 2024

State College

Gianna Giorgianni, class of 2025

Pittsburgh

Alecia Heckman, class of 2025

Pottstown

Scout Pullano, class of 2025

Cherry Hill, New Jersey

Leila Rosala, class of 2025

Huntingdon Valley

Nina Royer, class of 2025

Cazenovia, New York

Alumni hour

Set for Saturday afternoon, Feb. 21, Jones and Dance Marathon Alumni Interest Group volunteer leaders will introduce and thank the alumni dancers and share details about how all Penn State students can stay connected to THON after graduation. During this time, the entire crowd and all dancers will unite for the singing of the alma mater.

“Alumni can support THON long after graduating,” said Alumni Association interim executive officer Ryan Jones, class of 1995. “The Alumni Association aims to keep Penn Staters connected to what they’re passionate about, and THON is at the top of that list.”

Student dancers

Leaders from the Alumni Association's two student organizations, Lion Ambassadors and Blue & White Society, will dance in THON to cap their year-long fundraising effort. They are:

Lion Ambassadors

Bella Applegate, class of 2026, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications

Dylan Coulter, class of 2026, College of Agricultural Sciences

Olivia Fisher, class of 2026, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications

Blue & White Society

Cameron Berger, class of 2026, Eberly College of Science

Cameron Hoffman, class of 2026, College of the Liberal Arts

Rusham Katoch, class of 2026, Smeal College of Business

Karina Quinn, class of 2026, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications

Local events supporting THON

Many Alumni Association chapters fundraise year-round for THON during football watch parties and additional events. Below is a roundup of THON-specific fundraisers held in areas where many Penn Staters live and work.

Philadelphia

The annual Liberty Ball Gala, held in partnership with the Philadelphia Chapter, is set for 7 p.m.-midnight, at the Crystal Tea Room, Saturday, Feb. 14. Visit the Liberty Ball website to purchase tickets or donate online.

Pittsburgh

Dates and event info for this year’s Blue-White Ball, held in partnership with the Greater Pittsburgh Chapter, will be announced in the future. Stay updated by visiting the chapter’s website.

Atlanta

On Saturday, Feb. 21, the 19th annual Diamonds Over Georgia Pediatric Cancer Gala will be held in partnership with the Atlanta Chapter at The Golf Club of Georgia at Alpharetta. Last year’s event raised more than $63,000 for Four Diamonds, as attendees enjoyed dinner and dancing and contributed funds via a silent auction. The event was originally scheduled for January and was postponed due to inclement weather.

Baltimore

In late January, the fourth annual Charm City Gala Benefit Event for Four Diamonds was held in partnership with the Baltimore Chapter. The evening featured a buffet dinner, music, dancing, and raffle and silent auction prizes, special guests and more.

Chicago

Last month, Night for the Cure was hosted in partnership with the Chicago Chapter. Since 2013, more than $109,000 has been raised for THON.

New York City

Since 2008, The Hope Gala, held in partnership with the New York City Chapter, has raised more than $2.7 million toward the mission of conquering childhood cancer. This year’s event is set for Saturday, March 7, and you can purchase tickets online.

Pep Rally White Out

For the eighth consecutive year, the Alumni Association will sponsor the THON Pep Rally, set for Saturday evening, Feb. 21. Several Athletic teams, usually about a dozen, will perform for one minute, with two finalists chosen for a dance-off.

The Pep Rally is among the most popular events at THON, featuring multiple performances by Penn State Athletics teams on stage at the Bryce Jordan Center, appearances by special guests, and an arena-wide Penn State “White Out,” a nod to the annual Penn State football tradition that brings together alumni, students, and friends in a unified show of support.

“The Alumni Association is thrilled to once again play a pivotal role during THON Weekend,” Jones said. “THON unites the global Penn State community, and our 800,000-plus alumni are proud to support our students in this fight.”

The Alumni Association will provide T-shirts to dancers and THON attendees ahead of the pep rally Saturday evening at the BJC. Each year’s commemorative shirt denotes the specific year the student attended THON.

“Seeing everyone come together during THON is so inspiring,” Jones said. “Whether it’s by watching the livestream, donating to THON, or supporting the effort in your own way, the Alumni Association invites all Penn Staters to join the fight against childhood cancer.”

Following the performances, for the third consecutive year, the winning team will receive the Pep Rally White Out Trophy on stage. Amber Thompson, a sophomore and Schreyer Scholar majoring in landscape architecture at University Park, created this year’s keepsake in the University Libraries’ Maker Commons, a Teaching and Learning with Technology service. Located within the Media Commons on the first floor of Pattee Library, the Maker Commons offers students free access to 3D printers, multimedia tools and support, workshops, podcasting, video editing, graphic design and more.

“We strive to make emerging technologies open to everyone, no matter your ability level or technical expertise,” said Nicole Cingolani, undergraduate class of 2002 and graduate class of 2010, coordinator of the Media Commons. “We want everyone to be able to take advantage of the support, services, and resources we have to offer, and a big part of what I do is support student employees.”

The Maker Commons employs more than a dozen student “Makers-in-Residence,” including Thompson.

“We are a resource for students to make anything that they want to make; from Cricut designs, sticker creation, 3D models and printing, and so much more.” Thompson said. “In my classes, we talk about how to create and design things for people, and that’s what we’re doing here in the Maker Commons. It’s really cool to see how the creative skills and tools that I’m learning in studio connects here, like when it came to designing the pep rally trophy.”

The Bryce Jordan Center usually fills to capacity during the Pep Rally White Out, one of the highlights of THON Weekend. In addition to 15,000-plus Penn Staters inside the BJC, alumni and fans across the world will tune into the livestream, with everything leading to the crowning of a champion — the crescendo of the event, and the culmination of Thompson’s hard work.

“It’s going to be very surreal,” Thompson said. “Something that I spent months working on and designing will be up there in front of everyone during a unifying moment for the University.”