Penn State THON held it's annual Family Carnival Sunday afternoon in the Mary Beaver White Building, allowing Four Diamonds families to participate in crafts, games and other activities.

The THON 2019 logo for its “Shape the Moment” theme was also revealed.

“This years logo is all about working together to shape a moment,” Haley Stipes, the logo's designer, said. “Just as we will at THON and just as the kids and families do each and every day.”

Katie Bagnardi and Erin Contiliano were the Family Carnival co-captains this year.

The theme of the carnival this year was “THON Across America,” and Contilliano said they incorporated the theme by making the event feel like a road trip for the Four Diamonds families.

“All the organizations and captain committees are really creative with their booths,” Bagnardi (senior-biobehavioral health) said.

Each THON organization had a booth with a different state, and had a craft or activity based around that state. Springfield, one of the special interest organizations for THON, had a Maine-themed booth, where their table's craft was making lighthouses out of plastic cups.

“We really wanted to make the kids feel like they were traveling across America, and we think the orgs did a phenomenal job,” Contilliano said.

Contiliano (junior-marketing) said the event is particularly special to the THON community because aside from THON weekend, Family Carnival has the highest attendance for Four Diamonds families.

“It's very special and different from other THON events,” Contiliano said.

Anees Ayaz and her mother Pam Ayaz from York, Pennsylvania were attending the event, and said it was the first official THON event that they attended.

Anees is 14 years old, and Pam said she hopes the event will allow her daughter to make more connections with other kids her age going through similar experiences.

“It's overwhelming that so many people care about the kids going through this, I appreciate it so much,” Pam said. “I can't pinpoint a favorite part, but having so many people involved is just so amazing.”