Student Organizers Plan Fifth-Annual Cincinnati Dance Marathon at UC

University of Cincinnati student organizers host the fifth-annual

Cincinnati Dance Marathon,

beginning at noon, Feb. 16, through noon, Feb. 17,

in the gymnasium of the University of Cincinnati’s Campus Recreation Center (CRC).

The event to benefit children at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is open to the UC community and the public.

Cincinnati Dance Marathon Chair Stephanie Kenning, a fourth-year operations management major from Monfort Heights, says organizers are hoping to recruit 1,500 dancers to raise $30,000 to benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is a member of the network.

More than 150 colleges across the country host dance marathons to support their local children’s hospitals. The 2012 Cincinnati Dance Marathon at UC raised more than $26,000 and recruited more than 820 dancers.

Kenning, a Carl H. Lindner Honors-PLUS Scholar who is also a minor in international business and Asian studies, has served on the UC Cincinnati Dance Marathon executive board for three years, but first got involved with Cincinnati Dance Marathon by joining the dancers her freshman year.

She says the 2013 Cincinnati Dance Marathon will feature Miss Ohio’s Elissa McCracken from 1-4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 16.

“We’re also going to have four DJs, a live band and salsa lessons,” says Kenning. “The UC Dance Team and Bearcats Marching Band will make an appearance, and we’re also working with other student groups to plan special events over the hours of the marathon.”

Students are holding two information sessions for anyone who wants to join Cincinnati Dance Marathon. The information sessions will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 7, in Room 3210 of the Campus Recreation Center, and at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 13, in Room 3210 of the Campus Recreation Center.

Kenning is also active in Serve Beyond Cincinnati, a UC student-founded service organization. Her involvement with Serve Beyond Cincinnati led her to Haiti last December, as well as Minden, La., last spring. The St. Ursula High School graduate is also a member of the Student Alumni Council and Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

Her academic activities outside the classroom have taken her to Deloitte Consulting’s Battle of Ohio Competition last fall, as well as the PricewaterhouseCoopers xTax Competition. Kenning’s scholarship through the

Carl H. Lindner Honors-PLUS Program

in the Carl H. Lindner College of Business recognizes students who have demonstrated excellence in academics and leadership.

Kenning says her involvement with student organizations has brought her leadership opportunities that will benefit her in the workplace. “When you take advantage of these opportunities, you become part of a snowball effect of a student community that is deeply involved at UC,” says Kenning. “It’s so fun and it definitely compliments my learning in the classroom.”

She has also worked co-ops at General Electric and at the Kroger headquarters downtown.

People who are interested in joining the Cincinnati Dance Marathon

can register from the website.

The Children’s Miracle Network is an international nonprofit organization that raises funds and awareness for 170 pediatric hospitals, including Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

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