Editor’s Note: StateCollege.com will be tracking THON dancer Brittney Kern as she prepares for and follows through with THON 2010. This is part one of the ongoing series. -TJC
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Brittney Kern came to Penn State three years ago as a freshman from Bucks County. She was alone and intimidated.
In just four days, the now-junior will be supported and cheered by thousands of her peers and many Four Diamonds families.
Kern is one of 10 dancers from Springfield THON, one of the biggest independent THON organizations at Penn State. This English major and Schreyer’s Honor College student fell into step with Springfield by coincidence.
“When I started as a freshman I didn’t know anyone and when I saw Springfield advertised around Simmons I thought it was a good way to meet new people,” Kern said. “But when I got to THON weekend I was just in awe and ever since I never looked back and wanted to get involved in it as much as possible.”
Kern is now the Canning Chair of Springfield and has devoted most of her junior year to the position. She sees dancing at THON as the reward.
“To be able to dance at the end of it is a great way to cultivate all the hard work that I put in all year.”
For Kern, chair positions, THON, canning, Sunday night meetings, and dancing are all done for the kids.
Three kids in particular: Xavier, Kenzie and Renata.
These are Springfield’s Four Diamond children, and to Kern they are a part of the Springfield family just as much as the PSU students.
“For me, dancing is 100 percent for the kids.”
With less than a week to go, FTK will be a part of everything Kern does.
“We have a Springfield spirit week,” Kern said of the week before THON. “I’ve also stopped drinking caffeine, try to sleep regular hours, eat healthy and work out every day.”
It’s a full-time commitment, but it will all pay off when the Bryce Jordan Center fills for the weekend event and the crowd cheers Kern and many others on for all they have accomplished.
