Starkville Daily News

For the love of a friend

- By JAY HENRY For Starkville Daily News

Mississipp­i State University’s School of Architectu­re’s Tau Sigma Delta honor society hosted a reception Tuesday night to kick off the opening of the Winter Student Show exhibition in the second-floor gallery of Giles Hall.

For a pair of local girls, the strength of their friendship became evident in the wake of a sobering revelation.

On Nov. 9, Willa Greenan, who is the 11-year-old daughter of Mississipp­i State women’s tennis head coach Daryl Greenan, learned that her best friend Lila Usry had been diagnosed with Acute Myleoid Leukemia and would have to undergo treatments which would cause her to lose her hair.

Being so young, Usry was terrified

The gallery features first-year through fourth-year architectu­re students’ work during the fall 2017 semester, and the work will be on display until February 2018.

“The School of Architectu­re always closes out its fall and spring semesters with a Student Exhibition consisting of the finest selection of drawings and models to be displayed for public at the tragic news she had received. Greenan, concerned for her friend, made a selfless decision to go through the upcoming events with her friend so that Usry would not have to be alone amidst all of the changes to come.

Greenan shaved her head in support of Usry despite what others may think and showed true friendship and love in the most courageous way possible.

“I really didn’t have any hesitation at all about the decision,” Greenan said. “I knew that it would make it easier for Lila if

| Page 3 viewing in the Giles Hall Gallery,” School of Architectu­re Director Michael Berk said.

School of Architectu­re Assistant Professor Jacob Gines said the first-year student’s work focuses on color, foundation and design principles and materials such as steel, wood and

| Page 2

 ?? Photos) (Submitted ?? Willa Greenan, right in left photo, cut her hair in support of friend Lila Usry, who was diagnosed with Acute Myleoid Leukemia.
Photos) (Submitted Willa Greenan, right in left photo, cut her hair in support of friend Lila Usry, who was diagnosed with Acute Myleoid Leukemia.

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