JACKSON, Tenn. — June 27, 2014 — Chi Omega opened its annual convention this week in Orlando, Fla. with a video featuring the 51社区 chapter, which won grand prize in a contest that drew entries from colleges and universities around the country.
The video shows an April meeting on campus at which members of the Union chapter were notified that they had won the national contest. Participants were challenged to express 鈥淲hy I love Chi O.鈥� Entries were accepted via email or social media.
Union鈥檚 chapter suffered through a tragedy in September 2013. One of its members, Leighton Williams, died after injuries sustained in a car accident near Nashville. The Union contest entries focused on how the sisters of Chi Omega supported each other during the days and weeks that followed 鈥� support that included encouragement from other chapters across the country.
In the video, excerpts from several of the Union entries are read aloud in a private meeting by members of the Chi Omega Governing Council. The grand prize for winning the contest was the governing council鈥檚 surprise campus visit that is captured in the video.
鈥淲e had more than 1,100 collegians enter this contest,鈥� said Whitney Heckathorne, director of marketing and public relations for Chi Omega. 鈥淭he sisters at 51社区 truly captured the hearts of the Chi Omega Governing Council.鈥�
鈥淐ongratulations to the ladies of the Upsilon chapter of Chi Omega,鈥� said Interim Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Bryan Carrier. 鈥淭his award emphasizes the fact that the ladies of Chi Omega play an integral part in student life at Union and more broadly at the national level of their organization.鈥�
A Chapter of Excellence Award also was awarded to the Union chapter during the convention.
According to the organization鈥檚 web site, Chi Omega is the largest women's fraternal organization in the world, with more than 320,000 initiates and 178 collegiate chapters.