by Leah Jackson
Northwestern State University’s chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta Academic Honor Society for First-Year Academic Success was named recipient of the organization’s highest award, the Order of the Torch, presented to the nation’s most outstanding chapter, for the 2021-22 academic year. Chapters are only eligible for the award every four years and NSUs’s chapter was previously named recipient in 2018.
Chapters submit a scrapbook describing their activities during the past year. The scrapbooks are then judged by a committee of National Council members, and the winning chapters are presented with an award banner at a special ceremony. Judging is based on chapter involvement, chapter communication, campus visibility and presentation.
The successful chapter at NSU was led by Nicholas Cooksey, president; Jenna Pottmeyer, vice president; Emily Farmer, secretary; Jacob Boyter, treasurer; Malaya White, social media chair; Addison Duet, scholarship chair; Zoe Nelson, public relations char; Allyson Roberts, service chair; Sha’Rron Brown, faculty liaison; Sarah Moore, editor; Naje Turner, historian; Leah Thompson, wellness chair, and Ashley Eubanks, junior advisor. Reatha Cox is chapter advisor.
Earlier this year, NSU’s chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta won the organization’s national Maintaining the Flame Award for activities during the 2020-21 academic year. It was NSU’s second year in a row to win the award, which highlights continued excellence in programming, internal communications, campus visibility and overall presentation of their application.
In addition, Cox was named Outstanding Advisor of the Year. Cox has served as ALD advisor at NSU since 2010.
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.
NSU chapter members have volunteered at the NSU Food Pantry, the Natchitoches Car Show and other local events. Seven NSU chapter members have been awarded Trow Undergraduate Scholarships and one received the Stemler Study Abroad Scholarship.
For more information on the organization, visit http://www.nationalald.org. Winning scrapbooks can be viewed at www.nationalald.org/torch.
