THON 2022 Dancer Spotlight: J.T. Stevens

Story posted February 18, 2022 in CommRadio, News by Christian Smith

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For the first time in two years, the dancers are back in the Bryce Jordan Center for THON weekend.

Hundreds of dedicated students from all Penn State campuses are dancing for their respective THON organizations.
One of those students includes J.T. stevens, a third-year undergraduate student majoring in finance.

Stevens is dancing for Alpha Kappa Psi, a co-ed business fraternity through the Smeal College of Business here at Penn State University. Stevens has been heavily involved with thon since his freshman year, and dancing is something that he always wanted to do.

When he learned of his selection to be a dancer in THON 2022, he couldn’t have been more pleased to take on the once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"I was super excited," Stevens said. "THON has been a big part of my college career since coming in as a freshman, and being able to see it full circle and be able to dance for 46 hours is something that's really cool and not a lot of people get to do."

Stevens says that he is most excited to dance on behalf of his organization's family, the Rodriguez family, who will be present throughout THON weekend.

When it pertains to his preparation for the physically demanding weekend, which includes standing for 46 hours, he made it a priority to walk to his classes as much as he was able, along with walking on the treadmill, stretching and drinking plenty of water.

He says he is partaking in these practices so he can be more comfortable as THON weekend approaches. Stevens is most looking forward to getting to know and interact with various THON families on the floor - an opportunity that he believes he'll never forget.

"The whole purpose for THON is to raise money for these families that are going through things that some of us will never be able to experience," Stevens said. "Some of us will hopefully never have to experience it.”

“And being able to see the young kids' faces when you're playing games with them and giving them that time away from the hard cancer treatments that they're getting, it really is magical - and really something that you can't get anywhere else."

Despite being a bit nervous about the challenge of standing for 46 straight hours, Stevens will be in good hands throughout the weekend, as his friends and his parents will be present to support him - and they will even get a chance to enter the dance floor of the Bryce Jordan Center to meet some of the families and some of the other dancers.

J.T. Stevens' courage and bravery to dance in THON, along with that of hundreds of other Penn state students, is inspiring for sure and truly what THON is all about - doing it for the kids.

 

Christian Smith is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email cfs5591@psu.edu.