The mission of Alpha Lambda Delta is to encourage superior academic achievement among students in their first year in institutions of higher education, to promote intelligent living and a continued high standard of learning, and to assist students in recognizing and developing meaningful goals for their roles in society.
Alpha Lambda Delta UK Chapter established in 1940
Mission
How To Join
To become a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, you must meet the following requirements:
- Enrolled full-time at an institution that has an active chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta
- Earned a 3.5 grade point average or higher your first semester or first year (chapters determine time frame and may also raise the minimum GPA and/or require top 20%)
If you received a letter or an email with instructions to join online using MyHonorSociety (MHS), ALD’s membership management system, it is legitimate! Follow the prompts to accept membership; you’ll need the unique code you received in your invitation. Not all chapters use MHS.
Alpha Lambda
Induction
Alpha Lambda Delta holds a ceremony each spring semester to induct new members of the chapter.
Since 2020 the UK Chapter has inducted 900+ first-year students as new members.
History
Alpha Lambda Delta was founded in 1924 by Maria Leonard, the Dean of Women at the University of Illinois, to recognize academic excellence among freshman women. One year prior, Dean Thomas Arkle Clark had founded Phi Eta Sigma, an honor society to recognize academic excellence among freshman men. Both groups operated as single sex organizations until the mid-1970s when they both became coeducational in response to Title IX.
Alpha Lambda Delta has continued to celebrate academic excellence among first-year students and has grown to over 280 chapters initiating over one million students. The National Council which governs the organization has prudently invested the resources and gifts from local chapters, National Council members, former fellowship recipients, and friends of the Society over the years so that the Perpetual Fellowship Fund now exceeds $4 million and can provide support for undergraduate scholarships, study-abroad scholarships, and graduate fellowships.
Scholarships & Awards
Alpha Lambda Delta offers three unique award opportunities for undergraduate studies, graduate studies, and study abroad.
Jo Anne J. Trow Undergraduate Scholarship
Alpha Lambda Delta offers 50 undergraduate scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $6,000 each. With over $105,000 awarded annually, ALD strives to assist all members in completing their undergraduate degrees.
Graduate Fellowships
Being a high-achieving student often leads to career paths that require advanced degrees. ALD recognizes this comes as an additional financial burden to our students, and offers 28 Graduate Fellowships ranging from $2,000 to $7,000 designed to help offset graduate school costs. ALD funds $76,000 worth of Graduate Fellowships each year to help members achieve their career goals.
James G. Stemler Study Abroad Scholarship
ALD understands the importance of having a global perspective and with increasing travel costs funding a trip abroad has its challenges. ALD offers 20 study abroad scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $2,000 and invests $30,000 annually to ensure members studying abroad can have a life-changing experience.
Contact Us
Student Officers:
Lauren Tucker, President | laur.tucker@uky.edu
Chapter Advisor:
Patricia Whitlow | pat.whitlow@uky.edu
Chapter Coordinator:
C. Lynn Hiler | clynnhiler@uky.edu
Scholarship Coordinator:
Emily Sallee | emily.sallee@uky.edu