Emily Beauregard knew what THON was from a young age through her mom and aunt. Her parents met at Penn State, and she is a fourth-generation Penn State student. It was no wonder that when Emily set foot on campus, she decided to get involved in THON.
Emily is the second-year president of the special interest organization, DASH, which she represented as a dancer in THON 2024.
“I was always amazed by the impact it had on so many families and how it was completely student-led. I also wanted to dance, just like my mom and aunt did,” Emily said.
Emily is not the first in her family to dance during THON Weekend—her mother and aunt both danced while they were Penn State students.
Nancy Beauregard, Emily’s mother, first became involved in THON as a first-year student at Penn State Greater Allegheny in 1983. Greater Allegheny held a 24-hour dance marathon, and the winning couple would go to University Park to dance in THON Weekend. In 1984, Nancy and her partner raised the most money and were selected to dance.
Despite having strep throat, Nancy and her partner danced for 48 hours and came in first place for Commonwealth Campus fundraising!
“It was so inspiring being at the University Park marathon seeing all the families there and knowing what their kids were going through motivated me to push through to the end,” Nancy said.
Nancy danced again in 1986 as a “little sister” for Alpha Chi Sigma fraternity.
Nancy has stayed involved in THON as an alumnus by donating each year. When Emily became a student at Penn State, she was elated to see her daughter become involved in THON. She hopes that current and future THON Volunteers will remember why they THON.
“Never lose sight of why you are there. So many children and families have been helped over the years by THON, and it makes you proud to know that you are part of such a wonderful event which helps so many.”
Sharon Osborn, Nancy’s sister, and Emily’s aunt, participated in THON in 1978 and 1979. One of her favorite memories is the leg massages at the end of the break and dancing with the Nittany Lion.
Emily’s THON involvement brought Sharon back to the cause. She knows that current volunteers like Emily will continue THON’s legacy and dance until there is a cure.
“It is Emily’s enthusiasm and commitment that have rekindled my interest and support for THON all these years later. With students like her leading the way, I know we are in good hands,” Sharon said.
Emily knows that she would not have made it through THON Weekend without the support of her family. On the back of her shirt, Emily wore the words “nobreakinstride,” an homage to the theme for THON 1986.
THON is not just a weekend, an event, or even a generation. The Beauregard Family has left its mark on the organization and will continue to pave the way for future generations of THON Volunteers.
To ensure that THON is able to donate 96 cents of every dollar raised to Four Diamonds at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, we heavily rely on donor support. These donations provide us the resources to create endless memories for our Four Diamonds families & foster a deep love & connection to our mission for our volunteers through Pre-THON Events, alternative fundraisers, & THON Weekend.
