Honor society receives annual
national award
By Luis Jimenez
Staff
Writer
Hard work does pay off.
That's the belief that Purdue's chapter members
of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society rely on. The Alpha Lambda Delta
local chapter at Purdue was recognized as national chapter of the year
along with four other organizations chosen from the 215 chapters throughout
the country.
Alpha Lambda Delta's Purdue chapter, which consists
of about 1,600 members, was founded in 1926 as an honor society for
freshmen and it recognizes academic excellence during a student's first
year in college.
The national recognition, known as the Order of
the Torch Award, was created to recognize chapters that excel through
their activities. It is given annually by the society's governing body,
the National Council, headquartered in Macon, Ga.
Susan Huffman, Purdue's chapter adviser, said that
Alpha Lambda Delta is an honor society committed to promoting academic
excellence. "It exists to recognize and reward students that do well,"
she said. "We offer scholarships to sophomores each year."
Huffman said the organization held various activities
that helped them achieve the national recognition.
"Last year, members organized a toy drive which
involved soliciting toys from various housing units throughout campus
and then the toys were donated to unprivileged children at the Lafayette
Urban Ministry, nursing homes and the pediatric ward at Home Hospital,"
she said.
Huffman said among other activities the toy drive
included making Valentine's Day cookies with children at Purdue Village,
offering of reduced ticket prices to sporting events and setting up
a volunteer tutor list where members sign up and help fellow students
in their courses.
Huffman said that the award is more of a recognition
that enhances the credibility of the society.
"We received a banner with the recognition and
the president of the chapter got all expenses paid to attend the National
Leadership Workshop in Washington," said Huffman. "I watched the hard
work they put in. I'm impressed in how they became a group that made
a difference."
Paige Colby, former president of the Purdue's Alpha
Lambda Delta chapter, received the honor of attending the leadership
workshop in Washington.
"It was great to have being able to represent Purdue
there," said Colby. "We feel completely honored and blessed of having
won this award."
Barbara Quilling, former executive director of
the national organization, made the official presentation of the award
at a dessert dinner held last week.
Alpha Lambda Delta will be celebrating 75 years
of promoting academic excellence this spring.
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