Students Dance the Knight Away ‘For the Kids’

For the fifth year in a row, students came together to support a good cause through dancing. "Dance All Knight," Arcadia's annual dance marathon, took place April 11 in the Commons Great Room.

The event raised $3,924 for the Four Diamonds Fund, a non-profit organization located at Penn State Hershey Medical Center that provides financial support to children with pediatric cancer and their families. Four Diamonds covers all medical expenses so the focus can be on healing and recovery.

"In a world where money is such a hot button issue, we knew it would be hard to ask people to donate," explained Trisha McElhaugh '25, a leader of ArcadiaFTK, a student-run organization that stands for Arcadia 'For the Kids' and raises money for Four Diamonds all year long. "But every dollar helps these patients and their families to not have to worry about the cost that comes with fighting cancer."

ArcadiaFTK can be seen around campus holding bake sales and selling t-shirts, and around the Glenside area hosting restaurant fundraisers where a portion of the proceeds are donated back to the Four Diamonds Fund.

"Sometimes it feels like we tend to focus on what divides us-whether that be majors, activities, friend groups, etc," McElhaugh said "Being able to come together as a campus is important to maintain that sense of community, and what better reason to do it than to support pediatric cancer patients and their families."

The theme for the night was neon, which created a glow-in-the-dark dance party. Adam Levy, an instructor in Psychology, provided the tunes as the evening's DJ, and Cindy Planita, an assistant professor of Accounting, helped the students learn various country line dances.

Raffles were held throughout the night, and when the students needed a break from dancing, they could take part in games like giant Jenga and musical chairs, or memorialize the night by taking pictures in the photo booth.

"An event like this plays a vital role in building community at a small school like Arcadia by uniting students around a shared and meaningful cause," Briella Kish '25, a leader of ArcadiaFTK, said. "As the largest philanthropic effort on campus, it fosters connection, school pride, and a sense of purpose. It also offers opportunities for leadership, collaboration, and emotional growth, strengthening bonds across the student body."