THON Director Thursday: Meet THON 2023 Leisure Director Rene Richardson

Identify: Rene Richardson

Main: Built-in masters of accounting, Minors: Authorized setting of enterprise & administration info methods

Previous THON expertise:

THON 2020 Leisure Committee member, THON 2021 Leisure DJ captain, THON 2022 Leisure Pep Rally captain, THON 2023 Leisure director (present)

Identify an fascinating, bizarre, or quirky reality about your self:

I’ve performed saxophone for 12 years now! Positively was compelled to as a child however I’ve grown into it and find it irresistible a lot! I now play often at occasions and was within the Pep Band at Penn State for the previous 3 years. 

What made you need to apply for a Director place for THON 2023?

Sooner or later we are going to all dance collectively in celebration of a remedy. I needed to be a Director for THON to assist obtain that objective—that’s the reason I THON. I imagine that Leisure supplies the power and full of life spirit to THON that helps preserve the households and volunteers thriving throughout pre-THON and THON Weekend occasions. We aren’t the individuals who instantly work together with households, fundraise, or present analysis, however the work we do makes an affect in its personal particular method. THON has given a lot to me and I need to give my all again to this group.

What are your obligations as a THON Director? 

Because the Leisure Director, I’m chargeable for main a Captain committee of 25 to supply music and stay leisure at THON occasions all year long. The Leisure Director additionally acts as the first contact with Manufacturing Administration on the Bryce Jordan Middle and is accountable for contracting sound firms and performances in accordance with College coverage. This consists of the setup of the stage, lights, and sound for THON Weekend. We guarantee one of the best expertise for spectators and households in individual and digitally by way of our livestreams.

What do you need to implement in your place this yr that’s distinctive and differs from years previous?

We’re presently engaged on this proper now, however I’m wanting ahead to implementing Spectator suggestions on the finish of THON Weekend! We get suggestions from dancers and make modifications based mostly on that, so I imagine we will do the identical for spectators so everybody has an important expertise!

What makes your committee so cool, enjoyable, and/or necessary? 

I imagine that each committee is necessary to furthering THON’s mission and objective! Leisure particularly is tremendous enjoyable as a result of we get to do plenty of the behind-the-scenes work! We get to know all the pieces that’s occurring for every occasion and get to have a serving to hand in all of them. I additionally love the video games we get to play and our work is to mainly simply be certain everyone seems to be having enjoyable!

What are the general objectives you hope to succeed in together with your committee for THON 2022?

I’m very excited to see the methods THON and the Leisure Committee can proceed to additional THON’s mission, in addition to our Variety, Fairness, and Inclusion efforts this yr. I need us to have a supporting presence to the orgs and neighborhood teams that additionally help us. A serious objective of mine is to proceed getting spectator suggestions for THON Weekend and see how we will proceed to reinforce everybody’s expertise. I can’t wait to see how I can help my workforce within the objectives and visions they’ve this yr and see how far they’ll go.

Why do you THON? 

I THON in order that someday we are going to dance in celebration of a remedy! The work all of us collectively do collectively is making a significant affect on the present and future generations. 

What’s your favourite THON reminiscence?

THON 2020 was my first ever THON Weekend. I bear in mind being a committee member and listening to about how superb THON Weekend was, however I might not likely think about it. My first shift of the weekend was on the ground proper earlier than the dancers stood. This was one of the best second for me. There’s a video capturing the awe and amazement in my eyes as I entered the ground for the primary time ever.

Per Onward State custom, in the event you could possibly be any dinosaur which one would you be and why?

Micropachycephalosaurus. It’s one of many longest names for a dinosaur and I don’t even know how one can pronounce it, but it surely seems cool!