First in Scholarship and Leadership: Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society

Alpha Sigma Lambda's aim is to recognize the special achievements of adults who accomplish academic excellence while facing competing interests of home and work.

Alpha Sigma Lambda is dedicated to the advancement of scholarship and recognizes high scholastic achievement in an adult student's career. By so doing, this Society encourages many students to continue toward and to earn associate and baccalaureate degrees.

Through leadership born of effort, both scholastically and fraternally, Alpha Sigma Lambda inspires its candidates to give of their strengths to their fellow students and communities through their academic achievements.

To the newcomer in higher education, Alpha Sigma Lambda stands as an inspiration to scholastic growth and an invitation to associate with similarly motivated students.

In the winter of 1945-46, Dr. Rollin B. Posey, Dean of University College at Northwestern University, realized that a measure of encouragement and recognition accorded an evening student's scholastic achievement at an early stage of his/her program could provide the thrust of desire to achieve his/her educational objectives. Dr. Posey founded a society, Alpha Sigma Lambda, to honor those dedicated adult students who, while adroitly handling their life responsibilities, achieve and maintain high scholastic standards.

Today there are over 300 chartered chapters throughout the United States. The camaraderie, advantages and benefits of Alpha Sigma Lambda are its own best incentive for being. The Society not only brings together outstanding students and faculty, but also offers each individual an exposure to interests other than his/her own.

For the nontraditional student, the Society stands as an inspiration for continuing scholastic growth, and is a builder of pride through recognition. For the chapter institution, the Society serves as a vehicle for imparting appreciation for adult students' academic achievements and contributions. Also, the Society has been found to aid immensely in the recruitment and retention of nontraditional/adult students.

To this day Alpha Sigma Lambda is not only the oldest, but also the largest, chapter-based honor society for full- and part-time students.