Our Legacy
2010
For Victoria Smith and Claire Brobson
Total: $266,128.33 (first place*, second overall)
Dancers (10): Ben Denkin, Kim Hawk, Nate Heinzelman, Laura McCann, Zach Miller, Slater Nair, Meg O’Rourke, Greg Tallman, Brandon Tricou, Nina Wertan
2009
"Handing Down a World of Hope" for Victoria Smith and Claire Brobson
Total: $216,785.15 (first place*, third overall)
Dancers (10): Emily Cassidy, Alli Shultz, Greg Frisby, Zach Shue, Elaine Tanella, Kirsten Quisenberry, Lauren Julius, Laurel Upton, Jamie Nevel, and Jason Litman
2008
"Their World Rests on Our Shoulders" for Victoria Smith
Total: $160,473.97 (first place*, fourth overall)
Dancers (8): Matt McCowan, Rebby Willen, Ryan Ahn, Michelle Thiry, Lindsay Gerhart, Heather Melnick, Brian Buterbaugh, and Bobby Staloff
2007
"The Sky’s the Limit" for Victoria Smith
Total: $86,595.68 raised (first place*)
Dancers (6): Naveen Arora, Matt Sterling, Sam Merritt, Jen Koffs, Lizzy Fustos, and Alison Gerber
2006
"Kids at Heart" for Victoria Smith
Total: $26,007.85 raised (fifth place*)
Dancers (2): Chris Lucas and Boris Minkovich
* For an independent team (i.e., without Greek affiliation)
History
The Atlas THON team was founded in 2005-2006 by a group of students living in the Atlas House in Atherton Hall at Pennsylvania State University. This small but passionate group raised over $26,000 in their first year and finished as the fifth highest independent team total. Atlas THON hasn’t looked back ever since. For THON 2007, Atlas raised $86,595.68 (yes, a palindrome), the highest total ever raised by an independent team. By finishing first and with a total above $75,000, Atlas THON was awarded with the status of Nittany Lion Shrine, the highest honor a team can receive, joining only six other teams on campus (all of which are Greek affiliated). The following year, Atlas, under the leadership of Greg Tallman, set the bar even higher and raised an astounding $160,473 — gaining premier status among even the largest Greek organizations. Last year, Allison Shultz added another child to the Atlas family, Claire Brobson, in addition to topping the previous year’s total by over $50,000. Atlas is continuing to grow and will flourish this year and forever as always for the kids!
Mission Statement
Atlas THON is a group of free-minded students at the Pennsylvania State University committed to propagating excellence in service, specifically by acting as and according to the rules governing an independent organization of the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, and by providing its members access to and awareness of service and leadership programs at the university, and by promoting fellowship and social values among members.
