Alpha Chi Omega - University of Nebraska-Lincoln

W illie Desch Shafer '53 was a true Alpha Chi Omega sister. She lived by our values and remained devoted to our sisterhood for many years by spending countless hours serving on the Xi House Corporation Board, as chapter advisor, and on the national level. Most of all, she encouraged her sisters to chase their passions, valued them for who they are, and supported them, even during the toughest times of their lives. Alex Milanovich '06 was one of the many women whom Willie impacted. Supportive Since the Beginning Willie was always there for Alex. One summer, when Alex was helping Willie close the house, she shared how much she wanted to attend Convention. "I remember her saying, 'Have I ever let you down before?' I responded as I always have with a 'Not yet,' and she said, 'OK, then I'll figure something out; give me some time.'" Alex attended Convention that summer and had an amazing experience. She remembers very early on in her Alpha Chi years that Willie was well-known, and not just at Xi Chapter! At Convention, she recalls joking with her sisters that Willie was a celebrity. People from across the country would approach them and ask if they knew Willie and if she would take a picture with them. "Our Willie had a fan club that stretched outside our little campus town!" A True Believer The summer before her senior year of college, Alex was forced to inactive status because of her grades. Willie was her first call after her parents. "If there's one thing everyone knows about Willie, it's that she doesn't give up on people," Alex said. "I was questioning if I should stay at Nebraska, if I wanted a degree, and what I would do without the sorority. Willie didn't give me the option to quit." That year, Willie became Alex's tutor and checked up on her and her grades. Then she became Alex's mentor about her next steps and eventually became her résumé editor. Alex wasted no time beginning the reinstatement process and brought her paperwork to Willie on Amy Day, a celebration Willie created and was very passionate about. "She was always surprised when I showed up to events she invited me to, but that was the thing about Willie—she showed up for everyone, so it just felt right to be there for her." Alex shares that she graduated because of Willie. Since then, they remained in touch. She called Willie to tell her about every new job, promotion, or move, and Willie was always excited for her. "I owed it to her; I wouldn't have those jobs without Willie believing in me." "Willie always had good advice for anything I was going through; she always had a positive personality that was infectious, and it always left me feeling brighter about the world when we talked." P A G E 3 | T H E L Y R E L E T T E R Jordynn Anderson Sioux Falls, S.D. McKenna Blankman Papillon, Neb. Isabelle Borer Omaha, Neb. Lea Bushey Omaha, Neb. Ava Fehr Omaha, Neb. Maddie Fontana Omaha, Neb. Brynn Landenberger Elkhorn, Neb. Kristina Le Lincoln, Neb. Alison Lenaghan Elkhorn, Neb. Zoe Rehberg Waterloo, Neb. Alex, Willie, and Jessica Williams Jarosh '06 on Amy Day. A Woman Who Touched Lives Alex Milanovich '06 Shares Love for Willie Desch Shafer '53 Welcome, Welcome, New Members New Members Isabelle Borer '22 Mckenna Blankman '22 Alison Lenaghan '22 "I hope everye has a "I hope everye has a Wiie in their life, somee Wiie in their life, somee to protect them, to push to protect them, to push them, to support them. them, to support them. I csider myself very lucky I csider myself very lucky to know Wiie and to to know Wiie and to ca her my friend and ca her my friend and my sier." my sier." Why We Joined Why We Joined alpha chi Omega alpha chi Omega Hear from Some of Our New Members

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