Courtesy Photo

Counselor Bob Phaneuf (right) shows the certificate he received for losing the most weight in the Lean for Green scholarship drive. With Phaneuf is Albert Martinez, Scorpion Body Shop operation manager and Lean for Green coordinator.

In the Lean for Green scholarship drive held last semester, someone’s loss was another’s gain.

Twenty-four teams raised funds for scholarships by losing weight.

“I wasn’t expecting such a large turnout, as far as the [number] of teams that started,” said Albert Martinez, Scorpion Body Shop operation manager and Lean for Green coordinator.

At the beginning of the fall semester, the 130 participants weighed in at a combined 49,043 pounds. At the final weigh-in in December, the combined total weight loss was 297 pounds.

As the weight came down, the dollars went up.

The drive raised $4,155.

 “We had $2,225 … that were [raised from] corporate sponsors and $1,930 raised by [participants],” Martinez said.

The money will be used to create scholarships that will be awarded in Fall 2007.

“Students would be able to apply ... for the scholarship for housing, for books, stuff like that,” Martinez said.

He said a committee will be formed to determine the scholarship eligibility criteria.

Counselor Robert Phaneuf and the team L.A. Girls, captained by College of Liberal Arts Administrative Secretary Christy Garza, posted the largest percentage of weight loss.

Phaneuf, who lost 21.2 pounds, and the L.A. Girls, which also included Idalia Paredes, Carmen Gonzalez and Vanessa Garza, were committed to a regular exercise program and nutritional dieting.

“It was a win-win situation that was fun and rewarding,” Phaneuf said.

For Garza, “it was an opportunity for people like myself who don’t take time to really think about health issues to really consider it and [lose weight] for a good cause.”

Participants weighed in at Student Health Services and received incentives, such as towels, water bottles, notepads and T-shirts, from Human Resources and Residential Life and Housing.

Martinez, who created the scholarship drive with Associate Vice President for Student Development Vince Solis, says they plan to continue Lean for Green.

 “Hopefully, it will become an annual event,” he said. “I think it’s something that is good that would motivate people to be active.”