After ousting 55 members last year, Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, 524 Locust Lane, has reorganized and is now in the process of rebuilding. As part of this rebuilding process, the fraternity has established several new scholarships.

Matthew Ontell, Sigma Phi Epsilon's regional director for Pennsylvania, said the scholarships, which are open to all freshman and sophomore men at Penn State, will be given to undergraduates who live by the qualities exhibited in the fraternity's "Balanced Man Ideal."

"A sound mind and a sound body is our philosophy," Ontell said. "It means not just getting good grades, but also trying new things and getting the most out of your college experience."

Ontell said the anonymous donors of the scholarship do not wish to reveal the amounts of the scholarships until they are presented to the recipients later this spring.

Undergraduates who wish to apply for the scholarships will be asked to do so by March 24, and a committee including university administrators, Sigma Phi Epsilon alumni and chapter leaders will choose the recipients within a week.

"It's about recognizing other people on campus," he said. "We stress involvement on campus."

Dan Hadas, president of Sigma Phi Epsilon, said the "Balanced Man Ideal" is helping the fraternity's rebuilding process.

"We want to build leaders and develop them," he said. "We pride ourselves on being different and striving to break the mold. We want to be the best and lead the greek community."

Hadas said there are now 50 total members in the Penn State chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon, after retaining only 12 members after the chapter's review last semester.

Ontell said to better the fraternity, community and campus leaders are brought in to speak and give presentations to the members of the fraternity. The fraternity also has acquired a resident scholar.

Amber Kosik, Sigma Phi Epsilon's resident scholar, said the fraternity is trying to put resident scholars in all chapters nationwide.

"The chapter was not in its best form when I got here, but I saw their potential," she said.

Kosik said she helps the fraternity increase communication with the university and the national headquarters. She said she asks academic speakers to come talk to the fraternity members.

Hadas said he also attended the Carlson Leadership Academy, a 24-hour retreat in Pittsburgh, to learn more about the "Balanced Man Ideal" and conflict resolution.

Matthew Simone, a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, 220 N. Burrowes Road, said that he attended a similar program.

"I went to this five-day retreat," he said. "It was about showing us that this was community service and this is what we should try to do at our chapters."

Marc Shroads, president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, 200 E. Beaver Ave., said that his fraternity focuses on 12 core areas to better the fraternity.

"It's a model to live by," he said. "We like any way to better the image of greek life."

Shroads said some fraternity chapters "have just fallen on their face."

"It's hard to change the social atmosphere of a house," he said. "Most people look at a house as a place to drink and be exclusive."

Shroads said the greek system is "fundamentally going to change."

"It's just getting a little more energy pumped into it," he said.

The Interfraternity Council (IFC), which serves as an adviser for all the fraternities at Penn State, will support Sigma Phi Epsilon's rebuilding efforts, IFC president Ben Jabara said.

"I'm proud of their new attitude towards greek life," he said.

Collegian staff writer Brad Groznik contributed to this article.