The Jerry Sandusky scandal and its aftermath followed by Joe Paterno's death have combined for depressing times over the past three months in the Penn State community.
But Penn State - taking the lead from its students - showed its resiliency over the weekend by completing the most successful IFC/ Panhellenic Dance Marathon in its history.
The event, now known as THON, is in its 38th year, and it's become the largest student-run charity in the world.
THON raises money for The Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital for pediatric cancer research. It brings together students who dance for 46 consecutive hours - from 6 p.m. Friday to 4 p.m. Sunday - without stopping or sitting down.
Those students' herculean efforts are nobly supported by fellow students, their family members and family members of those suffering from this dreaded disease.
This year's THON raised an incredible $10.6 million, which shattered last year's $9.5 million figure by more than $1 million. Equally impressive is the fact that the total was $7.8 million in 2010, a growth rate of nearly 30 percent just in two years.
Six Penn State Altoona students were part of this year's dancing field. Our local PSU campus raised more than $82,000, finishing in second place out of all the Penn State commonwealth campuses.
Everyone involved has our admiration - but especially so this year: It goes to show the Penn State family is eager to put its troubles behind and restore its good name.
