Greek community donates $30,000 to ‘Nebraska by Heart’

Wednesday, May 10, 2017 Greek community donates $30,000 to ‘Nebraska by Heart’

Nebraska by Heart public art project at the Alpha Omicron Pi house

Painted, tiled, colorful and creative hearts popped up around the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus this spring, but those in front of Greek chapters are unique. Most fraternities or sororities with a six-foot heart in their yard chose to become a sponsor for the Nebraska by Heart public art project celebrating the state’s sesquicentennial.

Each sponsoring organization donated $3,000, which pays for the manufacturing of the heart, provides a materials stipend for the artist and assists with Nebraska by Heart project expenses. Sponsoring chapters got to choose the particular heart displayed on their lawn.

“Our AXO house is the entrance to Greek row, so it was only fitting that we display a heart,” said Willie Shafer, an Alpha Chi Omega alumna. “Our House Corps Board reviewed all the hearts available for display and after much discussion and voting decided on the white heart which most resembles a lyre–our badge.”

For Alpha Omicron Pi, the chapter based their selection on the artist. Junior Allie Laing, a member of Alpha Omicron Pi at Nebraska, submitted two designs to the Nebraska by Heart program in fall 2016; and both designs were approved for the project.

“As a chapter, we were thrilled to support Allie and her work, so we raised funds within our chapter our alumnae groups, and in the community with a GoFundMe page,” said Taylor Lofdahl, president of Alpha Omicron Pi.

The organization secured Laing’s second submission, entitled ‘We Are Nebraska.’ The heart will be installed at the chapter house later this month.

“Allie is an outstanding member of our chapter, and this heart is certainly a representation of the impact she has made in our sisterhood and community.”

For other Greek organizations like Sigma Chi, an alumnus donated to the project and chose the Greek house as a display location.

“The heart campaign was a program that my wife and I decided to contribute to,” said Mark Whitehead, a Sigma Chi alumnus from Kansas State who resides in Lincoln. “We chose to display our heart at the Sigma Chi House; and they indicated they would be willing to do it.”

Greek chapters that sponsored hearts include:

Organization Project Name
Alpha Delta Pi 78a) The Music of the Wind
Alpha Chi Omega 79c) View of hte Heart of the Storm
Alpha Omicron Pi 95a) We Are Nebraska
Alpha Xi Delta 36c) The Greatest of These is Love
Beta Theta Pi 18a) You Are Here
Delta Delta Delta 33c) Wave
Kappa Alpha Theta 40a) Beauty
Kappa Delta 50a) Interpretations of Life
Kappa Kappa Gamma 15c) The Key
Phi Delta Theta 20a) Defibrillator

Additional chapters with hearts on display include:

Organization Project Name
Sigma Chi 23d) Elements
Alpha Phi 61b) It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This

In total, the project received sponsorships for 83 hearts. The hearts are scheduled to remain on display until the auction on October 6, 2017 at the Salt Dogs Stadium in Lincoln.

View a map of all hearts.

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