On the first day of Dance Marathon my true love gave to me one common goal.

On the second day of Dance Marathon my true love gave me two six point two hours and one common goal.

On the third day of Dance Marathon my true love gave to me three pairs of shoes, two six point two hours, and one common goal.

On the fourth day of Dance Marathon my true love gave to me Fo(u)r The Kids, three pairs of shoes, two six point two hours, and one common goal.

On the fifth day of Dance Marathon my true love gave to me five full meals, Fo(u)r The Kids, three pairs of shoes, two six point two hours, and one common goal.

On the sixth day of Dance Marathon my true love gave to me six theme hours, five full meals, Fo(u)r The Kids, three pairs of shoes, two six point two hours, and one common goal.

On the seventh day of Dance Marathon my true love gave to me seven incentives to fundraise, six theme hours, five full meals, Fo(u)r The Kids, three pairs of shoes, two six point two hours, and one common goal.

On the eighth day of Dance Marathon my true love gave to me eight reasons to #RedefineTomorrow, seven incentives to fundraise, six theme hours, five full meals, Fo(u)r The Kids, three pairs of shoes, two six point two hours, and one common goal.

On the ninth day of Dance Marathon my true love gave to me nine numbers raised, eight reasons to #RedefineTomorrow, seven incentives to fundraise, six theme hours, five full meals, Fo(u)r The Kids, three pairs of shoes, two six point two hours, and one common goal.

On the tenth day of Dance Marathon my true love gave to me ten songs in the Line Dance, nine numbers raised, eight reasons to #RedefineTomorrow, seven incentives to fundraise, six theme hours, five full meals, Fo(u)r The Kids, three pairs of shoes, two six point two hours, and one common goal.

On the eleventh day of Dance Marathon my true love gave to me eleven ways to get involved, ten songs in the Line Dance, nine numbers raised, eight reasons to #RedefineTomorrow, seven incentives to fundraise, six theme hours, five full meals, Fo(u)r The Kids, three pairs of shoes, two six point two hours, and one common goal.

On the twelfth day of Dance Marathon my true love gave to me twelve Miracle Stories shared, eleven ways to get involved, ten songs in the Line Dance, nine numbers raised, eight reasons to #RedefineTomorrow, seven incentives to fundraise, six theme hours, five full meals, Fo(u)r The Kids, three pairs of shoes, two six point two hours, and one common goal.

One of the best parts about being a Gator is the opportunity to come together almost every Saturday of the fall semester to cheer on our football team in the Swamp. On Football Friday, we got to sit down with wide receiver Brandon Powell, #4, to hear his own Miracle Story.

“Growing up in a big family, with many siblings, I learned the importance of taking care of and serving others. My family is my motivation to be the best that I can be. My younger brother Brad is a huge motivation of mine. As a baby, Brad was diagnosed with Down Syndrome. Brad is one of the most loving, kind and charismatic individuals that I have ever met. He takes on life with a genuine smile and a warm hug no matter what obstacles stand in his way. He doesn’t care about anyone’s negativity or unkindness, instead he greets them with a grin and continues on with his day. Brad’s courage and fearlessness has taught me a lot about the game of life. His tenacity and positive spirit in every situation motivates me to work hard in school and all that I do. I am proud to be his big brother.”

– Vicki Arguelles

Multi-year Dancer Q&A

Four-year Dancers embody the passion and devotion that encourages all of us who remain at the University of Florida to #RedefineTomorrow. At the end of their time at UF they will have danced for a total of 104.8 hours For The Kids, both an honor and outstanding accomplishment. For this #ThrowbackThursday, we asked a soon to be four-year Dancer to reflect on her years with Dance Marathon at the University of Florida.

1. What is your name and how did you first get involved in Dance Marathon at UF?

My name is Taylor Hupp. Dance Marathon was the first UF event I experienced after I was admitted as a student. I attended the Orange and Blue Debut game when I was a senior in high school, which was coincidentally the same weekend as DM. I had some friends who were on Staff take me onto the floor, and it was one of the coolest experiences I could have ever asked for to begin my journey as a UF student.

2. What have been some of your favorite memories over your years of dancing?

Some of my favorite memories are the people I met throughout my years of dancing. While on the floor, it is so easy to jump right in and talk to many people who are all in the same position as you. Whether it is someone next to you at a meal, or just a friendly face trying to help you make it through the last couple of hours, the sense of camaraderie is one of my favorite things about DM. I also got to meet Miss America last year who is a sorority sister, so that was really cool.

3. What are you looking forward to most for your last Dance Marathon?

Besides an extra swim / shower shift (kidding!), I am most looking forward to pushing myself to raise the most I ever have this year. Although I will miss DM weekend once I am finished, I am very excited to finish off my senior year knowing I have contributed to such an incredible cause every year in college. I also really don’t think it hurts as much when you know you won’t be able to do it again, so that is a bonus as well.

4. What motivates you to keep dancing each year?

Every day, I am so incredibly fortunate to wake up and go to school, see my friends, go to the gym, etc. While college may be very difficult academically, it is nothing compared to what these children endure every day of their lives. If I can stand for 26.2 hours to help take years of suffering away from their lives, I would do it every day if I could. Dance Marathon always puts my good fortune into perspective for me, and it is an extremely humbling experience that I wouldn’t trade for the world.

5. What is the funniest thing that has happened to you in your years of dancing?

The funniest thing that has happened to me was during my Freshman year when me and my roommate were Dancers together. Her friend brought her a donut in the morning, and she just began bawling her eyes out because she was so thankful. We were delirious and couldn’t stop laughing about it for weeks.

6. How has Dance Marathon affected your experience as a student at the University of Florida?

Dance Marathon has allowed me to become part of something bigger than myself and join a community on campus with one common, incredible goal. It creates a greater purpose for every student involved, and it not only makes me proud to be a Gator, but also a FTK Gator.

To find a college that accommodates all of one’s wishes and desires is a difficult task, but the University of Florida has proven to be an institution that stands out for a multitude of reasons. With a campus that serves over 50,000 students, it is evident that the UF’s audience continues to grow and be supported by potential new students, current students and their families, and the proud alumni. As UF promotes diversity through their student body, organizations and opportunities available, students have the ability and are encouraged to find who they are, what they stand for, and surround themselves with the most innovative movers and shakers of the 21st century.

While students have their own reasons for choosing the University of Florida, they have also found their homes and secret getaways throughout the 2000 acres on campus and within the nooks and crannies of the 900 different buildings located throughout the area. These locations resonate with the rest of the student body and allow the campus to feel as if the Gainesville area is their own little slice of heaven, amongst the hectic nature of the college environment.

Some students shared their favorite places on campus include:

Hospitality Overall, Allison Jones has a distinct location that encapsulates the University of Florida to a tee. Allison said, “My favorite place is Row 90 of the Student Section in Ben Hill Griffin, particularly during sunset. Before the sunset, you can look around at the top of the stadium and receive a 360 degree, bird’s eye view of campus, with Century Tower peeking out through the trees and the distinct sound of the bells chiming in the distance. As the sun is going down, a blue and orange hue is apparent throughout the sky and serves to be a constant reminder of what it feels like to be a part of the Gator Nation.”  

When not giving tours, Jonathan Frish a Florida Cicerone, has a special place in mind that he deems to be the perfect setting in the UF area. He goes ahead and says, “My favorite place at UF would definitely be this huge, glorious tree in between Farrior Hall in the Murphree Area. While it’s an awesome tree to marvel at and study by, I managed to walk about twenty miles around this tree in one week during my sophomore year, while campaigning for a Student Government election. That tree has since stood as a symbol of persevering through challenges and dedicating as much effort as necessary to make this university great.”

As the Campus Diplomats try to individualize the experiences of the entire student body, each Campus Dip has made UF their own through their own favorite locations on campus. Brooke Kaplan, a junior in the organization stated that her favorite place to be on campus is Lake Alice. Brooke mentioned, “While there I can escape from the rigors of school and just appreciate the nature and the beauty that comes with the Gainesville area that can be overlooked if we focus too much on the stresses of college.”

The Executive Director of Project Makeover, Chelsea Carrasquillo states that the Plaza of the Americas is her favorite place to be on campus. She says, “I love the Plaza of the Americas because it’s at the heart of campus and the Plaza is surrounded by nature and greenery. It is always enjoyable to take a study break from Library West by walking out to the plaza, eno-ing with friends, or just enjoying a Starbucks coffee in the newly-renovated area of campus.”

A Family Youth and Consumer Sciences Professor, Kate Fletcher eloquently voiced her opinion of the best place on UF’s campus with the Baughman Center. Professor Fletcher said, “It’s where me and my husband, Jared, got married. It only fits around 98 people, but it’s such a  beautiful place of peace, reflection, tranquility, and light. The story behind the man who it is named after could make me cry right now and you need to look it up and read about him. The man made it to create a place where you can escape the hustle and bustle of life.”

While everyone has their different places that stick out and make the university feel like home, the population of the University of Florida come together because they all have found their place within the Gator Nation.

-Camber Pecor

We kick off Dance Week by reminding you of our cause with a Miracle Story from Kalee Brook.

Kalee Brook is a post-grad dietetics student here at the University of Florida. Kalee took some time to share her Miracle story with us as both a UF student and a member of one of our Miracle Families. “I’ve had the privilege of experiencing Dance Marathon from the bottom up. I started out as a Staffer for the Morale team, a Delegate, and for the past several years, a Family Relations Captain. I first handedly know the hard work and fundraising that goes into making DM such a success and on the other side of the spectrum I’m one of the Miracle Families and know how much a difference that fundraising has on the lives of patients and families. I’ve been treated at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals now for the bulk of my life. I was seen locally growing up at the children’s hospital back home and was transferred to Shands after my condition deteriorated. I was paired up with a team of specialists who changed my life. I was diagnosed with a slew of autoimmune related disorders including Crohn’s Disease, Celiac Disease, Gastroparesis, Vasculitis, and Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.  My one doctor refers to it as a having a ‘systemically overactive’ immune system because my body lacks the ability to differentiate which cells are mine and which are foreign. I have a port to manage infusions and a permanent feeding tube for the bulk of my nutrition. It’s overwhelming at times but I think back to where I was when I was first transferred and to all that I’ve been able to accomplish since and feel so blessed. Dance Marathon changes the lives of patients and families because it provides research funding for better treatment options and funds equipment, beds for parents to sleep in next to their children, Arts and Medicine, and Child Life. Thanks to the support I have received at UF Health at Shands, I was able to graduate college and hope to have an impact similar to the one health care providers have had on my life.”

Kalee then went on to explain exactly why she feels so called to participate in Dance Marathon at the University of Florida. “I remember the awful sinking feeling in my stomach that I got when I realized I was running out of treatment options. I look back on the times my mom would get emotional because I was in so much pain and we felt so helpless. The late nights I stay up getting sick. That’s why I DM- so no other patient or family has to experience that kind of feeling. I remember the first time I shared my story on a DM stage. I was terrified of putting into words some of the lowest, most vulnerable parts of my journey. I looked out and the crowd had their arms outstretched into the CMN balloon shape, a standing ‘O’.  The support I got afterwards- it’s hard to explain what it meant to me. It was when I realized something good is coming out of my struggles, that I can do something about all this. DM gives me hope for a better tomorrow and that’s quite honestly one of the most powerful things you can possibly provide.”

– Jenna Theofiledes and Ashley Norus