For the fifth year in a row, UCSB’s Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity hosted the annual California Gamma Chapter Balanced Man Banquet on Sunday, distributing $5,250 worth of scholarships at the event.

Held at the Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort in downtown Santa Barbara yesterday morning, the Balanced Man Scholarship is a national effort by the fraternity to promote their ideals of “a sound mind, sound body.” This year three active brothers from the local SigEp house were awarded $750, two incoming freshmen members were awarded $750, and a freshman not affiliated with the fraternity won the $1,500 grand prize.

SigEp Cal Gamma President Jacob Eurich said the banquet and awards are meant to encourage healthy lifestyles.

“Our goal in offering this scholarship is to promote gentlemen, athletes and scholars who will not only better our university but also positively affect communities all over the world,” Eurich said. “We reward guys with a sound body and a sound mind.”

The three active SigEp members who won $750 were Drey Liautaud, Ryan Andrade and Kevin Stolzenbach. Incoming SigEp members and freshmen students Hardeep Singh and Hermis Alvarenga also won $750, while Chingiz Bigalimov won the grand prize of $1,500.

According to its Web site, Sigma Phi Epsilon is one of the largest college fraternities in the nation, with more than 14,000 undergraduate members at 241 chapters. UCSB’s chapter has 76 reported members this year.

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