National honor organization honors WMU chapter advisor

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Anthony Helms, director of academic advising for Western Michigan University’s Lee Honors College, has been named Advisor of the Year by the Alpha Lambda Delta honor society national organization.

Helms has served as the WMU ALD advisor since 2013 and is a newly-elected professional member-at-large on the national council. He was also honored as WMU's Registered Student Organization advisor of the month in November 2015. 

Under Helms' leadership, the ALD chapter won the prestigious Order of the Torch award in 2015, two Maintaining the Flame awards in 2014 and 2013, and the Delta silver-level award for total membership percentage increase in 2014. He has been a consistent presence at the national leadership conferences, both attending and presenting. 

The chapter's overall membership has increased by nearly 100 students per year since Helms became the advisor. His chapter’s impressive Web and social media activity highlights the many events and service projects that take place annually, such as partnerships with the the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, American Red Cross and Relay for Life. The chapter has coined #ALDTuesdays, encouraging students at WMU and other ALD chapters across the country to show their ALD pride on a weekly basis. 

"Anthony goes above and beyond to assist our executive board in accomplishing whatever our next mission might be," says Nicole Thompson, junior advisor of the WMU ALD chapter. "He has a very clear perspective of what it means to be an Alpha Lambda Delta advisor. He ensures that the student leaders of our chapter’s executive board are given enough independence to learn and practice leadership skills. We have learned skills that will be helpful in years to come.

"Anthony Helms is hardworking, strategic and cherished by many," she adds. "I would not be the student I am today without this extraordinary chapter advisor."

Helms will be presented with the award and deliver a keynote address at the 2016 ALD National Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C, in October. The WMU chapter will also receive a $200 cash award. 

Alpha Lambda Delta 

Alpha Lambda Delta is a national honor society that recognizes students' academic success in their first year at a college or university. Founded in 1924, ALD has over a million lifetime members and is present on more than 280 campuses nationwide. ALD's mission is to "encourage superior academic achievement, to promote intelligent living and a continued high standard of learning, and to assist students in recognizing and developing meaningful goals for their unique roles in society."

For more information on ALD, contact Trish Dillenbeck at @email or (585) 364-0840.

For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.