Nobody thought it could be done -- the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (Thon) broke last year's record by almost $100,000.

In spite of a driving-on-the-sidewalk DUI incident in front of Rec Hall early Saturday morning, the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon went off without a hitch, Penn State University Police said yesterday.

Sally Miller didn't leave this year's Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon empty-handed -- instead, she took home new hand-knit socks.

Penn State athletes took an hour from their busy practice schedules to play hockey, soccer and duck-duck-goose with Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (Thon) kids in the South Gym on Saturday.

At 3:45 a.m., Maria Paredes (senior-Spanish) felt like a kid in a toy store.

Technology has transformed the way thousands of supporters celebrate the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon. Thon has now become a worldwide phenomenon, touching 25,000 viewers in 30 different countries.

With barely enough room to properly perform the arm movements and body jumps, Tommy Otterbine intently studied the line dance before imitating.

In addition to the 700 dancers at the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon this weekend, there was one unofficial dancer that has been rocking the floor for 30 years.

People visiting Rec Hall this weekend for the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon could easily see dancers, captains and moralers on the floor, but it may have been harder to spot the volunteers behind the scenes. Looking closely, the easiest "behind-the-scenes" group to spot on Friday night was the OPPerations (OPP) committee. You just had to look for the chickens.

At noon on Saturday, a miniature assembly line of pickles, lettuce and deli meats was set to feed those involved with the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon -- all 1,800 of them.

Four Diamonds child Michael Palm was shooting everyone in sight with silly string, including his parents.

Thon weekend in photos (PDF format)

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