Sigma Phi Epsilon and Student Senate partnered up to promote and host a St. Balrick’s event in the Alumni Lounge Thursday, May 3. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer and donor powered charity committed to supporting research to find cures for childhood cancer and to give survivors a long and healthy life.

Members of Sigma Phi Epsilon raised a total of $3,425 and shaved their heads. Students, faculty and parents, travelling as far as three hours, consumed the audience, watching the eighteen people who participated in shaving their heads. Some members even dyed their hair different colors the week before the event to raise more money and help spread awareness of the event. BarberShop Rock donated their time, effort and materials to do the shavings.

This was the first year a St. Baldrick’s event has happened through Sigma Phi Epsilon, but they hope to make it an annual event.

“[I started this event because], as a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, we have to do a service learning project, and I chose to do something with cancer because cancer has impacted my life,” president of Sigma Phi Epsilon and student senate member Matthew Nigh said.

Nigh explained that the process of hosting a St. Baldrick’s event was easy.

“I went online to St. Baldrick’s and filled out a form and got in touch to do an event,” Nigh said.

Sigma Phi Epsilon partnered with Student Senate because some of their members are involved with student senate, and they helped spread awareness of the event and got more donors. Student Senate also helped to up and run the event.

“[As a freshman] I feel empowered. It’s my way of doing something for the community and impacting it,” freshman mechanical engineering student and Sigma Phi Epsilon member Jake Ubl said.