<p>Thon 2013 concludes at 4 pm today. The link above is okay, I hope! That's the streaming site for all the info. Last year PSU students raised 10.9 million dollars for pediatric cancer research and family support. Thon organizations and their sponsored family stay on touch throughout the year, with Thon being something of a reunion. Friday night at the beginning of Thon, long distance runners arrived from Hershey Medical Center bearing cards and letters from the children too sick to attend. It's a great thing these students do.</p>
<p>Thon is amazing. We’ve been watching the webcast a lot this weekend. DS was at the BJC most of the weekend, and left around 1 am this morning to get some schoolwork done. He planned to go back at 5 am. Unfortunately for him, they filled up by 4 am this year. He wishes he had stayed in - as today is a pretty powerful day to be in the BJC. I’m in awe each year with what these students do!!</p>
<p>This was my freshman D’s first THON. She could not stop talking about what an awe inspiring experience it was for her, from planning to canning to "living at the BJC for 3 days. She was so proud to be a part of something so important. I watched the live stream throughout the weekend and I went from smiling to tears and back again more times than I can count. We were floored when we saw the amount of money raised this year. WOW!</p>
<p>This is my DS’s first year experiencing THON and performing with the Blue Band, so I can’t wait to talk to him about it. The past 2 years, he has missed it due to out-of-town drum corps practices.</p>
<p>I for one am done arguing with the haters. There’s no question that the University has learned a lesson and is working on repentance and amends. I don’t see those posters going after Alabama for an armed robbery culture, or the NCAA (independant investigators just found that in the case of Miami, gosh almighty, the NCAA bullied and overstepped its own rules). If they want to obsess about the past without carrying the lessons forward, have at it. </p>
<p>Thon is awesome, literally. Might not be perfect in every way, but wow, how they have “been the change”. They have everything to be proud of!</p>
<p>My son was accepted and we are going to see PSU this friday 2/22/13. The only issue for me is if they are just a little flexible with tuition with OOS students. My son got partial scholarships at an NYS state school (UB Buffalo) which has a very good engineering rep and a school is Mass. We are not haters. PSU is a great school and if we can work out the finances and he ends up going there, I would be very proud to say he is a Nittany Lion.
How can ANYBODY and I mean ANYBODY be hater to a school that has tens of thousands of alumni that loved that school and overall has a great education rep. which is the bottom line.</p>
<p>Oh gosh DadRangerfan, dress WARM! The weather here this week has been lousy And you will see State Patty’s Day, which is a regrettable midwinter drinking tradition, but not really representative of the usual behavior. </p>
<p>I agree, if there’s something to hate at PSU, it’s the tuition and lack of substantial financial aid for undergrads. Travel safe!</p>
<p>greenbutton - is State Patty’s Day this weekend? DS is heading out of town for another drum corps practice weekend. So, glad he’s missing State Patty’s Day, but hoping the weather in Indianapolis is better!!!</p>
<p>This year most all of the restaurants/bars are not serving alcohol, the distributors are closing early, and the police have already announced everyone misbehaving will be charged with something, with no friendly warnings, or deferred charges. The state of PA also finally updated the underage and public drunk fines so instead of $50 they are in the $500-$1000 range. Charges will stay on your record…and on top of all that, it should be cold and rainy! Most importantly, the students —especially the 14,000 or so who just did Thon — are pretty vocal about it being okay to not like SPD. I just want them all to be safe, and our friends who are First responders to be safe, too.</p>
And you will see State Patty’s Day, which is a regrettable midwinter drinking tradition, but not really representative of the usual behavior. </p>