WMU honor society receives annual award for service

KALAMAZOO—Western Michigan University's chapter of the Alpha Lambda Delta national honor society has won a prestigious Maintaining the Flame Award for the ninth straight year.

The award was presented to 12 ALD chapters around the country in recognition of their continued excellence in programming, communications and service during the 2013-14 academic year. It is a follow-up to the honor society's highest accolade, the Order of the Torch Award, and rewards exceptional chapters that are so successful they are ineligible to compete for the torch award.

A smaller number of chapters receive torch awards each year, but recipients must wait four years before they can compete for the honor again. The Maintaining the Flame Award goes to chapters that continue their excellent work during this ineligibility period. WMU won its last two torch awards in 2007 and 2011, and was among the 12 schools receiving flame awards last year. The University is eligible to receive a torch award again in 2015.

Advising the chapter this year were two Lee Honors College staff members, Anthony Helms, assistant director of academic advising, and Dr. Carla Koretsky, dean.

The 11 other schools that received this year's Maintaining the Flame Award are: Bowling Green State University, California University of Pennsylvania, Dickinson College, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, University of Connecticut, Saint Vincent College, Morningside College, Purdue University, University of Texas, University of California-Los Angeles and University of Maryland.

Alpha Lambda Delta

Alpha Lambda Delta is a national honor society for students in their first year of college, has grown to more than 250 chapters and has initiated more than 700,000 students. The organization recognizes and encourages academic excellence, as well as challenges members to make meaningful contributions to society. WMU's chapter was founded in 1962 and focuses on students who are looking for opportunities to contribute to the local community by volunteering in service projects. It had record a number of initiates for the 2013-14 year and inducted over 400 new members, an increase of 50 for the previous year.

For more information, contact Anthony Helms at @email or (269) 387-3233.