Chapter News

Concordia University

The Chi Upsilon chapter of Alpha Sigma Lambda held its annual induction dinner and ceremony on Friday, December 9, 2005. Our induction ceremony is usually attended not only by the inductee, but also by his or her family (spouses, parents, and children), making for a very emotional and exciting evening. The ASL officers invited Dr. David Zersen, President Emeritus, to open the evening with prayer, and Suzanne Mueller, Director of Alumni Relations, to be our keynote speaker. Suzanne addressed the gathered group on the importance of community, however it is defined, and encouraged all new inductees to remain active with their university community, as well as the inductees’ newest community, Alpha Sigma Lambda.

Concordia University offers programs for non-traditional students across the state of Texas. This is the second year that we have had students from the multiple sites meet the eligibility requirements for membership into ASL. For the 2005-2006 academic year, we invited eight non-traditional students into membership of ASL. The new student inductees for this year are Ricky Cotto (Austin), Edward Gallardo (San Antonio), Glenda Genchur (Austin), Teresa Hanner (Houston), Toby Kendrick (Austin), Jim McKay (Austin), Yvonne Pfertner (Austin), and Molly Zucknick (Austin).

The Chi Upsilon chapter also solicited nominations for a faculty inductee for 2005-2006. Based on the nominations, the chapter inducted Professor Amy Root as the honorary faculty inductee for this year. Prof. Root, who teaches in the English department at Concordia University, was selected based on student support, including comments such as these:

Prof. Amy Root is absolutely outstanding. I never enjoyed writing and reading literature until I took her class. She is masterful at inspiring students to have greater depth, understanding, and appreciation for Literature. Prof. Root opened my creativity and helped me discover that I can be a writer. She inspired me to write on a daily basis. When I decided to return to school, I was a little unsure of what to expect. Professor Root’s class was my first course. I was nervous the first class, but when the course was over, my creativity had re-appeared and I felt alive!

We officers of the Chi Upsilon chapter thank Alpha Sigma Lambda for providing us the forum to recognize outstanding scholarship and leadership in the classroom and to have the opportunity to celebrate these achievements!

Cathy Brigham, PhD
National Councilor

Wayne State University

1st Howard Finley Annual Scholarship Award

The Theta Xi Chapter of Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society created the Howard Finley Annual Scholarship Award in honor of Mr. Howard Finley, Director of Student Services in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, for his sincere devotion to the academic success of nontraditional adult students in the Interdisciplinary Studies Program.

On December 3, 2005, the Theta Xi fraternity presented its first Annual Scholarship Award Fundraising Dinner and its sixth Annual Induction Ceremony in recognition of Mr. Finley’s “Bright and Shining Stars.”  This scholarship award was established to recognize high scholastic and leadership achievement, to encourage continued progress, and to provide assistance to nontraditional adult students in financing their education in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies.  The new inductees are Mallory Beard, Denise Dorris, Audrey Gaither, Amanda Reese, Shanier Smith, and Lakesha Terrell.

ASL Theta Xi Chapter Board Members are delighted to report, "We exceeded our fundraising goal, and we give our heartfelt thanks to each and everyone for their generous donations and contributions.”

Ruthie Flowers
National Councilor

Thomas Jefferson University

University of Southern Carolina Upstate

New Chapter Organized!

Dr. Reginald Avery, Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs presided over the ceremony and stated, "The Honor Society provides USC Upstate the wonderful opportunity to give special recognition to full and part-time adult students who are excelling academically while balancing the needs of family, work and community."

Dr. Judith Prince, Vice Chancellor, is quite optimistic about the new chapter's future: "We love this organization, and we are currently working toward the induction of our second group of non-traditional students and faculty. A great benefit of the organization is an opportunity for students to recognize faculty who mean a great deal to them. We had many tears at the first induction when students who nominated faculty introduced them and spoke about their contributions to their academic careers."

Students inducted included: Jonathon Barna, Roseanne Black, Julieta Botescu, Tracy Bouye, Kristopher Brown, Michelle Bublitz, Shelley Carpenter, Michele Carroll, Patti Clifton, Tameca Curry, Rebecca Eddy, Rene Eslick, Stacie Ford, Robin Freeman, Shirley Hubbard, Edwar Lara, Timothy Lipsey, Cecilia Locke, Matthew Lowe, Dirk McDonald, Rebecca McDowell, Charity Norville, Donna Peden, Gabriela Prosser, William Stevens, Matthew Stone, Debora Thurston, Amanda Walker, Vira Webbon, Sheri Willmon, and Kendria Wolfe.

Faculty members inducted included: Dr. Reginald Avery, Dr. Vince Connors, Dr. Marilyn Izzard, Dr. Marilyn Knight, Dr. Andrew Myers, Dr. Brigitte Neary, Dr. Holly Pae, Dr. Ron Romine, Dr. Astrid Rosario, Sharon H. Smith, Dr. John Stockwell, Dr. Jack Turner, Susannah Waldrop, Dr. Susan Washburn, Dr. Kelly Waters, Tammy Williams, and Dr. Claire Wofford.