Winning by $24.14, the independents pulled out a victory over the greeks in Phi Eta Sigma’s Penny Wars competition last week, helping to raise money for Habitat for Humanity.

“People do not think about what a little loose change can do,” Darcy Russell, Phi Eta Sigma sponsor, said.

Running from Sept. 22 through last Friday, the Penny Wars placed the non-greek students against the greeks. Every day during lunch, students had the opportunity to place coins and bills into jars.  Each played a different role to either help the team gain points or hurt the other team by deducting from its points.

Phi Eta Sigma decided to sponsor the fundraiser after Ruth Sarna, director of student health services, did a presentation for the group about Habitat for Humanity.

“Nurse Ruth came to us wanting to do something to help out,” Katie Mercer, Phi Eta Sigma treasurer, said.

In the end, the fundraiser collected a total of $80.43. This came a little shy of the group’s $100 goal.

“It is really saying something to give like this, without any return in sight,” Clayton Alexander, Phi Eta Sigma president, said.