Concordia initiates first members of art honors society
The December 2024 inductees of Lambda Mu with Professor of Art Don Robson. The new members are (from left to right): Sophia Bossio, Hannah Schaefer, Aiden Weishaar, Harley Storie, Kaitlyn Porter, and Kayla Reece (not pictured).
Photo credit: Sophia Bossio
By Hope Nelson
This article is featured in the March print edition of the Sower newspaper.
The art department at Concordia initiated its first six members into Lambda Mu, the university’s chapter of the national art honors society Kappa Pi at the end of the Fall 2024 semester.
Lambda Mu’s first initiate ceremony took place in December 2024 and inducted current members Hannah Schaefer, Harley Storie, Aiden Weishaar, Sophia Bossio, Kaitlyn Porter and Kayla Reece into the chapter.
Students must have completed at least 12 credit hours in the visual arts to be eligible for induction into Lambda Mu and Kappa Pi. They must also attain an overall “B” average in all their art courses, at least a “C” average overall, produce outstanding artwork and undergo a portfolio review.
According to member Harley Storie, who also serves as the president of Concordia’s Art Club, all current Lambda Mu members are art majors and also take part in the Art Club. She said that membership in the honors society reflects their passionate commitment to the arts.
“I value our membership because it connects us to other artists throughout the nation and it is a way to recognize those of us who have dedicated a significant part of our lives to art,” she said.
She added that most of Lambda Mu’s members are working toward their Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees and will participate in the BFA thesis exhibition in the Marxhausen Gallery this spring.
Concordia’s chapter of Kappa Pi plans to admit new initiates during the current spring semester. Participating in this honors society, said member Sophia Bossio, gives students access to unique opportunities.
“Members can receive scholarship opportunities, and at the end of each year, Kappa Pi highlights different chapters and publishes members’ artwork from across the nation,” Bossio said.
Lambda Mu also holds events on campus and invites art students to form community with those who have similar interests. It publishes student artwork and articles in two publications, “The Sketch Book” and “The Sketch Pad” each year and awards pins, certificates and even honor cords for graduating seniors.
Storie said that she decided to major in Art Education and earn her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree because she believes that art can teach skills like problem-solving, creativity and communication. She’s also passionate about expressing herself through her artwork.
“Art is not just making beautiful things but finding beauty in the everyday,” Storie said. “Art compels me to look closer at things that bore or even disturb me. I think all art reflects humanity, so art is a way for me to learn about other people.”
