Alpha Chi Omega - University of Missouri

alpha chi omega | page 4 L esa Wessler McCartney '75 was a recipient of the 2020 University of Missouri Faculty-Alumni Award, which highlights the contributions of exceptional individuals to the university's growth and core mission through their professional accomplishments, teaching and research excellence or service to the institution. A retired senior vice president, quality management, for Preferred Family Healthcare, Inc., Lesa earned her BSN in 1977 and her MSN in 1997. She has been recognized as an extraordinary leader, particularly in her home county of Adair, where she's served Mizzou for over 35 years. She was named Alumni of the Year in 2004 by the MAA's Adair County chapter, in addition to serving as chapter president from 1999 to 2001. Her advocacy efforts have yielded extensive legislative support for the university, as well as higher education in general; she is a dedicated leader on the Mizzou Flagship Council and Mizzou Legislative Network and has dedicated both funding and footwork in her efforts to promote the best interests of her alma mater. The Sinclair School of Nursing honored her dedication by naming her their Outstanding Alumna of 2019, and she now assists and advises System President Mun Choi as a member of the Missouri 100, a select group of proven leaders dedicated to promoting the system's important role and reputation around the world. Her other accomplishments include: n Mizzou Alumni Association Governing Board, 2008-2016 n President's Award, Mizzou Alumni Association, 2016 n Inducted into Theta Sigma Tau National Honor Society n Nightingale Society member n Appointed to the Jefferson Club Board of Trustees in 2020 n Life member of the Mizzou Alumni Association Lesa has fond memories of her time at 900 Richmond Ave., especially the parties that entailed "lots of dancing and fun," football weekends complete with dressy attire and Mizzou mums, and Mom's and Dad's weekends. To her, Alpha Chi means sisterhood, home and family. "I had a chance to live in the house for two and a half years, which gave me an opportunity to meet and live with so many great girls. I remember those hectic times of rush week and growing together as a team, nice weekly formal dinners and, of course, developing lifelong friendships and a true connection to the Mizzou I love. Living in Greek Town made me feel such a part of campus and the university. Being in nursing school, I spent a considerable amount of time in the medical library. The sorority was so understanding of my scholastic commitments." She is especially appreciative of Cathy Barrett '74, the sorority sister who involved her in a little sister fraternity group for Alpha Gamma Sigma. "Through that connection, I eventually met my Mizzou Match," she said. The Alpha Chi Omega connection has provided a continued opportunity in meeting sorority sisters who have graduated over several decades. Lesa and her late husband, Jack McCartney, BS '72, MS '73, have two daughters, Courtney and Kinsey, BA '09. Lesa established the Jack and Lesa McCartney Scholarship Endowment in 2017 supporting the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and Sinclair School of Nursing students from Adair County. Jack died in 2017 and Lesa moved to Columbia two years later. Lesa Wessler McCartney '75 Honored with Prestigious Mizzou Award 75 Years Betty Wicklein Dodson '46 Jacqueline Snethen Dunn '46 Betty Gordon '46 Elinor Jamison '46 Shirley Page '46 Dorothy Marr Roberson '46 Diana Kronsbein Rutherford '46 Cynthia Jackson Standifer '46 Janet Jamee Vidal '46 60 Years Lillian Bingenheimer Bjorseth '61 Linda Waller Borgstede '61 Diana Maxwell Bull '61 Joan Polmantier Campbell '61 Sandra Carter '61 Marilyn Powell Delling '61 Mary Dickson '61 Janet Baldwin Hunt '61 Rebecca Smith Jones '61 Patricia Harris Milcik '61 Elizabeth Reis Paggi '61 Mary Veale Petersen '61 Carol Gray Poteat '61 Jacqueline Fendel Reilly '61 Sondra Rainey Ricketts '61 Berta Jones Schuerenberg '61 JoAnne Smallwood '61 Karen Kay Eddy Smith '61 Sharon Schoenwalder Steinmann '61 Abby Geiger Thomas '61 Carmen Vance '61 Madelyn Dennis Visconti '61 Nancy Welch Wedig '61 50 Years Nancy Wheeler Aufderheide '71 Marilyn Geers Blankley '71 Kay Eckert Burnett '71 Amy Hitt Drury '71 Vicki Fitchett Duemler '71 Lynne Erting '71 Laurie Baker Glazer '71 Anne Pile Hogue '71 Kathryn Obermeyer Jarboe '71 Nancy Wilcox Jenkins '71 Jeanne Heligman Juergens '71 Lainie Wright Kufrin '71 Martha Lindhorst '71 CONGRATULATIONS TO ALPHA NU ALUMNAE Celebrating Milestone Anniversaries in 2021 I n 2021, these alumnae are celebrating the 75-, 60- and 50-year anniversaries of their initiation into the sisterhood of Alpha Chi Omega. All alumnae celebrating anniversaries are contacted by AXO National Headquarters regarding their milestone pin if contact information is available. Those affiliated with an alumnae chapter generally receive their milestone pins through their alumnae chapter. If an alumna is not a member of an alumnae chapter or was not contacted by National Headquarters, she can contact Hannah Harris, assistant director of volunteer management, at hharris@alphachiomega.org or by calling (317) 579-5050.

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