Iowa State University Dance Marathon is Iowa State’s largest student-run philanthropic event. Every year, students dedicate themselves to fundraise for the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital through Children’s Miracle Network. Just last year, students raised $427,350.17 for the kids. As the General Co-Director, Austin Javellana works alongside his counterpart to organize and lead over 250 student leaders in making Dance Marathon a success. Austin leads an Executive Committee of 18 student and faculty leaders to organize efforts such as recruitment and alumni and community outreach. Since 1998, when an Iowa Gamma Phi Delt brought the organization to Iowa State, Dance Marathon has raised over $2.7 million for UICH. The leaders of Dance Marathon 2015 have set a $1 million goal.
Prior to becoming Iowa State Dance Marathon General Co-Director, Austin served a variety of roles on campus. Within the organization, he served as a two-year Recruitment & Morale Captain while serving terms as Iowa Gamma’s Scholarship Chairman and President.
“I’ve cultivated the majority of my leadership skills through the Fraternity and would not be in this position without the support and encouragement from my brothers. This year especially, I have the great opportunity to be serving on the Executive Committee with three other Iowa Gamma Phis: Greg Hunt, Thomas (Jimmy) McKenney, and Ben Carlson. Ten other Iowa Gamma Phis serve on general committees and many others plan on dancing in the event,” said Javellana.
“Iowa State Dance Marathon is the place where I get to take the teachings of the Fraternity and share them with others. I am extremely grateful for what Phi Delta Theta Fraternity has taught me during my collegiate experience and truly do not know where I would be without it.”
Javellana is moving into his senior year at Iowa State and is majoring in Landscape Architecture and minoring in Business.
