Four awarded Balanced Man Scholarship
PLATTEVILLE - Leaders, scholars, athletes and gentlemen - these four virtues are held dear by University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Sigma Phi Epsilon members.
It comes as little surprise, therefore, that the Balanced Man Scholarship (BMS) at UWP is given out to incoming freshmen that exhibit these four main virtues throughout their high school years.
This scholarship has been offered by the Sigma Phi Epsilon members since 1999, mostly through the Rent-A-Gent Service Auction. Members of the surrounding Platteville community were able to purchase UWP Sigma Phi Epsilon members to participate in community service, which included taking down a shed that was obstructing the Highway 151 project. In addition, Sigma Phi Epsilon helps with on-campus activities such as the Pickard Haunted Hall. Altogether, the organization raised $1,300 this year for the scholarship funds.
Competition for the scholarship itself was fierce. Eighty students applied for the 2004 scholarship, but the list was eventually narrowed down to 11 finalists after a series of home interviews by the recipient selection committee. The finalists were again interviewed on campus so that the committee could decide who would receive the four scholarships.
Finalists, fraternity brothers, alumni, administration and family members of the finalists were invited to attend the scholarships awards banquet. Two guest speakers were invited to talk about the importance of a balanced life: UWP men's basketball coach, Paul Combs, and Derek Dachelet, the director of Charitable Friendships for UWP and a Sigma Phi Epsilon alumnus.
James Hackett of Prairie du Chien, Steven Kosmalski of Rosholt, Patrick Marshall of Viola, and Richard Sackett of Milwaukee were the winners of the Balanced Man Scholarship for 2004. Hackett received $600, Kosmalski received $400, and Marshall and Sackett each received $150.
The co-chairs of Sigma Phi Epsilon, Dustin Lochner, Brad Polzar and Brian Wetzel, say that their goal is to focus on raising an even larger amount of money in the future, so that all finalists in future years could be given a small share of the scholarship money, rather than just a few individuals. The Balanced Man Scholarship is one of the few scholarships the university gives out that is funded and supported solely by a student organization.
"As far as I know, the BMS scholarship is a bit unique on our campus," said Dachelet.
Contact: Dustin Lochner, Brad Polzar, Brian Wetzel, Co-chairs of Sigma Phi Epsilon, (608) 592-5580, lochnerd@uwplatt.edu
Prepared by: Kym Bliven, Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, blivenk@uwplatt.edu
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