Penn State Scranton's THON 2025 dancers, John Evans, Matthew Reyes, Paige Geisler (Dancer Relations Committee membe)r and Gavan Quimby all showing off the "Four Diamonds" symbol "For The Kids" from the dance floor of the Bryce Jordan Center.
DUNMORE, Pa. — After THON 2025 concluded at 4 p.m. on Feb. 23, the philanthropy not only set a new record — raising $17.7 million for pediatric cancer research and support — but also created an unforgettable shared experience for four Penn State Scranton students who participated in the 46-hour no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon for the very first time.
The four students — John Evans, Paige Geislar, Gavan Quimby and Matthew Reyes — made campus history as well. This year marked the first time the campus was able to send four students to THON.
And, Penn State Scranton, which raised over $18,000, kept up its streak of making it into the top 10 Commonwealth Campus THON fundraisers, an accomplishment it has achieved consistently over the past few years.
Geisler, a first-year mechanical engineering student, said that getting involved with THON was a driving factor in her decision to attend Penn State. After experiencing the physically demanding marathon, Geisler said her perspective on the event deepened.
“It was an amazing event to experience. Even tired and physically exhausted, the end was by far my favorite part,” Geisler said. “Getting to hear family-specific stories really gave me a better understanding for what we were doing it for. It was a perfect reminder, at the end, of what the weekend meant, not just to us as dancers, but the families there as well.”
Fourth-year corporate communication student Reyes said he now counts his THON experience as one of the most memorable moments of his life.
“My THON experience was unlike anything I had ever experienced. There were many ups and downs, but overall, it was the best experience of my life! Everything we worked so hard for really showed THON weekend. The community, supporters, and families really gave me that drive and motivation to get through,” he said. “We do it all for the kids and I can’t express how much it all means to me. THON will always be a part of who I am and what I do moving forward. Making the top 10 is always our campus’s goal for the year and we are proud to achieve that every year!”
Quimby, a third-year IT cybersecurity major and Student Government Association president, emphasized the lifelong impact of his experience.
“Representing Scranton as a THON dancer is a lifelong memory I'll never forget. After this weekend, I have nothing but love and an unbreakable bond between the other Scranton dancers.” he said. “From playing with Four Diamonds children, experiencing the pep-rally, and seeing the total reveal at the end, it's a life-changing experience. As time has passed after THON now, I think I can finally answer the question of ‘yes, I would be a dancer and do this all over again next year.’”
Fourth-year nursing major Evans said “THON was absolutely life changing,” and something he said he will remember for the rest of his life, particularly the comradery shared amongst the four dancers throughout the event.
“Matt, Gavan and Paige were the best co-dancers ever and we always were looking out for each other. The four of us also got to dance and play catch with Chancellor [Elizabeth] Wright!” he said. “The final four was inspiring and it was amazing to listen to the families and the stories they shared.”
Wright, who serves as regional chancellor for the Scranton, Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre campuses, visited the dance teams from those campuses on the floor of the Bryce Jordan Center during THON weekend — cheering them on, dancing with them and encouraging them all.
For Penn State Scranton, making the Top 10 in fundraising is always a major goal, and this year’s achievement has only reinforced the campus’s commitment to continuing its support of THON and the fight against pediatric cancer.
