Most people on campus have heard about Terp Thon, the dance marathon held in College Park every spring to raise money for the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington D.C. It is different than other marathons, however, because students are not allowed to sit at all during the 12-hour marathon, which represents the 12-hour shifts nurses work at the Children’s National Medical Center.
Hundreds of students work for months leading up to the event by advertising, holding fundraisers, attracting people to register, and putting the event together for a great cause. However, many people don’t know about the person in charge, executive director Melanie Modula.
(Photo courtesy of Melanie Modula)
Modula, a junior on the public relations track from Jackson, NJ, has been involved with Terp Thon since her freshman year at University of Maryland. “My brother was involved and really into Penn State’s dance marathon, commonly known as THON,” Modula said. “I heard him talk about it all the time and I saw how much he was into the cause. I was thrilled to find out that they were starting a dance marathon here on our campus as well, so the second I found out about it, I reached out to the person in charge on the STARS website asking how I could get involved.”
The first year the marathon was held lasted 18 hours and 56 minutes, raising more than 56,000 dollars. “I participated as a moraler during my freshman year,” Modlua said. “Finishing the entire event was exhausting but completely worth it once I heard the powerful stories from such brave children.”
“The next year, I applied for a morale position again, but when my Morale Chair went abroad in the spring, I was given the opportunity to fill in for her in the Executive Board position,” Modula said. “The second year we raised 140,000.”
In its third year at UMD, Modula became the new executive director of Terp Thon. “At first I had concerns about whether or not I was right for the position and whether or not I’d be able to balance it all, but this year has been great so far,” Modula said. “Seeing the progress we have made in such a short amount of time lets me know Terp Thon is already destined for big things in year 3.”
Modula’s favorite memories of Terp Thon was the last hour of the event. “The energy in the building was something that is hard to describe to people that weren’t there,” Modula said. “It was hundreds of college students, spending their Saturday night having fun together and all for a great cause. I looked around that there was no other event on campus that brought together such a diverse group of students. Everyone that was there for our “Power Hour” left feeling amazing and that made me feel that the event was a huge success.”
(Photo courtesy of Melanie Modula)
“Secondly, was the fundraising total reveal,” Modula said. “I had no idea what our fundraising total had reached because the amount had been hidden leading up to the event. I watched the executive board members lift their numbers up and don’t think I could have been happier with the total. People were crying from happiness and it was such a great feeling for all to know that we were the most successful dance marathon in its second year. It is still something I am so proud of.”
Terp Thon has even helped Modula decide what she wants to do after she graduates from University of Maryland. “I was very undecided about what I wanted to do career-wise until I got more involved with Terp Thon and now I see myself doing PR for a nonprofit,” Modula said. “ If I could find a job within the dance marathon organization after graduation, I would be thrilled.”
If you want to register to be a dancer at this year’s Terp Thon in March 2012 sign up here: www.helpmakemiracles.org/event/terpthon12
Or donate to the cause at helpmakemiracles.org/participant/generaldonation