Diamondback Online - The University of Maryland's Independent Daily Student Newspaper

One of the most popular events on Penn State University's campus is the annual THON charity dance event, which raises millions of dollars each year. While not all events translate from one campus to another, members of Circle K International say they hope the dance-a-thon will catch on in College Park, too.

Circle K International is the collegiate-level branch of Kiwanis International, a global service group. This university's branch, which has about 60 members, participates in many different community service projects, from tutoring children to helping clothe D.C.'s homeless through D.C. Outfitters. Its latest project, undertaken with help from service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega, seeks to impact on a global scale.

The dance-a-thon, which is like a high school dance - DJ and all - will help raise money to build a library in Intibucá, Honduras, an area with a 90 percent illiteracy rate. This library would be the first public library in the northeast region of Honduras. The district level of the Kiwanis organization also supports the cause, and it seeks to raise $10,000, according to junior communication and government and politics major Raakhee Sharma, this university's Circle K president.

"This is kind of our first international outreach effort," she said. "We just wanted to help support that cause. As much as people say, 'Think globally, act locally,' it's really great to expand our efforts internationally."

Sharma also explained the club's long-term thought process behind putting together a dance event.

"We've been playing around with this idea for about a year or so," she said. "Last year our club really improved and really got a strong membership base. We really developed ourselves - a strong foundation. We thought, 'What can we do to get our name out on campus for fundraising efforts?' and we played around the idea with a dance-a-thon."

Junior finance major Jessica Abramovici elaborated on the process of picking the library project.

"I don't want to say it was a no-brainer, but when we voted on it, everyone [on the executive council] seemed on board with that," she said. "It seemed only fitting to have the money donated to Students Helping Honduras. We all want to accomplish that goal of raising $10,000, and every club in the district has to do their part to accomplish that goal."

The club has been selling tickets in advance for the show, but Abramovici said based on past experience, people don't buy tickets until the last minute. Besides the promise of good music and an excessive amount of dancing, Circle K International is spicing up the event by giving away prizes - both for dancing and through raffles.

"People will have the chance to compete for the best dancers," Sharma said. "There will be judges who will be determining who the winners are in each heat, and then we'll have a final at the end of the night."

The best dancer will win a $50 Visa gift card, and the raffles will include prizes such as Chipotle gift cards, Sharma said.

While Sharma hopes for a successful event, it also brings up bittersweet feelings for her.

"I joined as a freshman when our club was very inactive and falling apart," she said. "At the end of my freshman year, I became president, and I've been president ever since. Next week … I am turning over my role … it will be such a great event to go off on … but it will be the end of my career as president."

Abramovici doesn't have those bittersweet feelings - she is concentrating on the positives.

"This is an amazing charity … all the money is going to charity. We're not keeping a dime - hopefully that will sell it [to people]," she said.

The event starts at 8 p.m.; tickets cost $7 and are available at the Hoff Theater Box Office.

tripp.laino@yahoo.com

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