Education junior Matt MacDonald and Weinberg junior Mark Waterston are the new executive co-chairmen for Dance Marathon, the organization announced Monday.

MacDonald, the former merchandise committee co-chairman, has been involved with DM since his sophomore year. Waterston, the former corporate relations co-chairman, said he has been interested in DM since he danced his freshman year.

“Dance Marathon is such a worthwhile organization,” Waterston said. “I hope we can keep student and community interest high next year.”

Former co-chairman and Medill senior Jesse Meschuk said the new co-chairmen were chosen based on their DM experience and vision for Northwestern’s largest philanthropy. All juniors on the executive board were eligible for the positions, and four of them applied.

“The co-chairs have to have a good understanding on where Dance Marathon’s strengths are and how they can move it forward,” Meschuk said. “They have to have a lot of initiative and be pro-active.”

Applicants submitted a written application and interviewed with Meschuk and former co-chairwoman Betsy Burton.

Burton, a Weinberg senior, said the candidates complement each other well, describing them as “everything we could have asked for and more.” She added that she hopes they “expand the vision and scope of Dance Marathon, while still maintaining some traditions.”

MacDonald said he wants to focus on improving DM’s external relations with the Evanston community and NU alumni.

“I really want to keep up the DM spirit among the students and the charity,” said MacDonald. “I want everyone to be as excited about DM as they have been in the past.”

MacDonald and Waterston’s first job will be to name an executive board, which will then choose next year’s main beneficiary. They will also be responsible for being the philanthropy’s primary spokesmen, recruiting dancers and other student volunteers, and creating a common vision among the executive board, Meschuk said.