Northwestern University Dance Marathon (NUDM) announced late Sunday that Ned Baker, a Communication senior and Ashley Thompson, a Communication junior, will emcee the 2012 Dance Marathon. Baker and Thompson will motivate dancers through the 30-hour event, planned for March 2-4, 2012, and serve as representatives of NUDM in the event’s run-up.
This year, NUDM will benefit the Andrew McDonough Be Positive Foundation, which fights childhood cancer.
“After dancing my freshman year, I’m so excited to return as a senior to make this year’s DM the best one yet,” said Baker in a press release. “Being emcee has been a dream of mine since I walked out of the tent after those first 30 hours.”
“DM has been one of the greatest experiences of my life,” said Thompson, in the same release. “Ned and I are thrilled to be leading it this year, and we know it’s going to be absolutely incredible.”
Baker and Thompson follow Communication students before them: last year, Communication then-sophomore Jesse Swedlund emceed, accompanied by Medill then-sophomore, Emilia Barosse.
Last year, more than 1,000 dancers participated in NUDM, raising — for the first time in its history — more than one million dollars. NUDM has raised $12 million over its 37 years for 30 different charities.