Campus Life

'Penn State saved my life'

'CBS Mornings' segment highlights former THON child's full-circle journey

Tucker Haas is a former Four Diamonds child who is now a senior at Penn State. Haas has taken a leadership role in the fraternity that was instrumental in helping save his life, and is now giving back by helping to care for children with cancer. Credit: CBSAll Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State senior and former Four Diamonds child Tucker Haas credits the University in helping him beat an aggressive form of sarcoma that he was diagnosed with at the age of 2.

Haas and his story were recently featured in a segment on “CBS Mornings.”

Tucker Haas was just two years older when he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Fraternity members at Penn State took him under their wing. CBS News correspondent Nancy Chen traveled to State College, Pennsylvania, to see how Haas, who is now a senior at Penn State himself, is paying it forward. Credit: CBS

Haas and his family received support from Four Diamonds, which assists pediatric cancer patients and their families at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital. Each year, Penn State students raise millions of dollars to help support Four Diamonds’ mission.

Now cancer free and a student at Penn State, Haas has focused his energy on paying forward the love and support he received from the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity as a child.

“Looking back, it really made an impact on my life,” he said. “Penn State saved my life.”

Today, the senior in Penn State's Recreation, Park and Tourism Management Program is a leader in the same fraternity that looked after him and he’s set his sights on giving back by helping to care for children with cancer and inspiring those around him.

Last Updated October 31, 2022