A hero to many kids, Four Diamonds families, Penn Staters… and the crush of countless committee members, Ryan Patrick graced the Penn State THON community this year as the Executive Director of the largest student-run philanthropy. Read on to find out more about this passionate and generous Stater’s THON journey!
Name: Ryan Patrick
Year: Fifth-Year Senior
Hometown: Jamison, PA
Major: Mechanical Engineering
HC: What was your first encounter with THON?
RP: My Freshmen year, I had every intention to transfer, so I didn’t really get involved with things. But I decided to go check out THON. I wasn’t on a committee or involved with an organization. I just walked into the Brice Jordan Center and hung around for a bit by myself. I remember thinking that it seemed awesome. I kind of regret not really diving into it my freshman year but at the same time I am happy with my journey and would change anything comparing to where I am today
HC: What inspired you to take the leap to apply for Merchandise Captain for THON 2012?
RP: I really learned about THON from being the THON chair for my Fraternity the year before. I fell in love with it. When one of my friends asked me what I wanted to do for THON my junior year, I said I would probably be on a committee but he said that I should try to be a captain. So i gave myself the opportunity to do that and was lucky enough to be selected as a Merch captain. It was an awesome year!
HC: Can you explain the transitions from Captain, to Overall Committee Member, to Executive director.
RP: After being involved with Merch for a year I had so many ideas, and I wanted to give myself the chance to apply those ideas, so I applied to be the Merchandise Overall. After spending a year on the Overall Committee, as it was called then, and seeing THON from a very different standpoint, I had so many ideas and things I wanted to try to do so that I could make my impact on THON from the Executive Director Position. I decided again to apply. I am so happy I did; I wouldn’t change it for the world!
HC: How would you explain your relationship with you’re Executive Committee?
RP: I was there a lot of times to support my committee in every way I could. At the beginning of the year, everyone sets out their goals and visions for what they want to do in their year on the committee. I took it upon myself to make my number one goal to support them and help them achieve their goals and dreams.
HC: What is one of the most important tips you will give to the THON 2015 Executive Director?
RP: My number one tip to anyone in Thon is to enjoy it. Looking back on my year, it all goes so fast. There are so many things that are happening and once that it’s hard sometimes to sit down and really appreciate what’s happening in the present. It’s sometimes hard to really step back and realize what you’re doing and how cool it is. Enjoy every moment.
HC: What is your favorite THON memory?
RP: Our Four Diamonds child, Joshua, has been in remission for a while but because of the chemo there were a lot of side effects, and one of those was a loss of hearing. He was really stressing out about getting hearing aids. I have been hearing impaired since I was a little kid, so it was cool for me to help him through that. No one else could really have that first person experience with what he was struggling with. That is one of my favorite Thon memories because it was so real and such a unique way that I could help a kid in need.
HC: There is an undeniable fame that comes with being the Executive Director. How has it effected your day-to-day life at Penn State?
RP: Sometimes it’s very obvious, I’ll be walking down the street and someone will hit their friend that they are walking with and point at me, so it’s hard to ignore that. I usually wave or smile or something. I will never, ever have any other level of, I guess you could call it fame, anywhere ever again and I remember talking to will and he was like you know what, you can either avoid it, or you can enjoy it. So I enjoyed it!
HC: What is the weirdest thing a fan has ever said or done to you?
RP: I don’t know who it was, but THON weekend, my sisters saw something about me on twitter under @PSUsnails. It’s where someone takes a picture of you and draws a snail shell on your back. So I was like the THON snailrecter. It was after a line dance so I was bending over to pick up my stuff, and they drew a shell on my back. It was really creative but creepy…it made me laugh!