PNC Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society Inducts Members

Westville – The Purdue University North Central Kappa Delta chapter of the Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society welcomed 16 student members and one honorary members during its recent induction ceremony.

PNC’s Alpha Sigma Lambda chapter held its first meeting on campus on Oct. 5, 1995. Today’s chapter has 60 members.

Its high academic standards make it one of the elite academic honorary societies. Requirements for membership in the Kappa Delta Chapter include earning a 3.7 GPA or better, being at least 24 years old and completing a minimum of 30 credit hours. Invitations for membership are sent to qualified students at the beginning of the fall semester.

PNC Chancellor James B. Dworkin welcomed the students at the induction ceremony. “ This accomplishment is even more remarkable when you stop to realize that our adult students have jobs, are raising families, volunteering in the community and are trying to maintain their social lives,” said Dworkin.
“It is evident that you enjoy being a student and that you have an appreciation for learning. It’s been shown time and again that students who make a commitment to their studies, stay in school, continue to have superior grades and they graduate.”

The PNC chapter is one of 200 Alpha Sigma Lambda chapters nationwide. The honorary was established in 1945-46 to recognize the superior scholarship and leadership of adult students. Alpha Sigma Lambda notes the special achievements of adults who are able to maintain academic excellence while managing the commitments of family, community and work. Alpha Sigma Lambda is the oldest and largest chapter-based honor society for full- and part-time adult students.

Four of the past five years PNC students have been awarded national scholarships from the Alpha Sigma Lambda Adult Education Foundation.

The 2007 Inductees are: Susan Allwood, LaPorte; Jill Suzanne Cruz, Valparaiso; Jennifer A. Davis, Michigan City; Jennifer Fase, DeMotte; Gary W. Goodwin, Chesterton; James B. Joros, Valparaiso; John C. Lerner, DeMotte; Connie L. Norberg, Knox; Tessa Orshonsky, Valparaiso; Chuck Pollock, Chesterton; Mike Popielski, New Carlisle; Cathy Schiesser, Valparaiso; Bryan Simms, Valparaiso; Angela Eve Travis, LaPorte; Daniel Thomas Winter, LaPorte and Karen Rochelle Zimmerman, Rolling Prairie.

Honorary membership was granted to Larry Barrett, associate vice chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Services.

The presenters included chapter President James West, Portage; Vice president Barbara Clouse, Valparaiso and Treasurer Stephen J. Bensing, Valparaiso.

The club advisor is Allana Burke. The club’s national councilor is Dean of Students John Coggins.

Among the clubs activities and accomplishments of the past few years are: making a donation to the PNC students who traveled to Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina; making a donation of teddy bears to Dunebrook children’s advocacy center; volunteering at the Ride or Stride event for Exceptional Equestrians Unlimited, a Porter County organization providing therapeutic horseback riding for the handicapped; hosting a Valentine Food Drive and donating food items to the Aliveness Project in Michigan City, supporting people living with HIV; volunteering for the Science and Technology Fair held at Valparaiso University; staffing an informational table at each semester’s student orientation and wrapping gifts at Barnes and Noble to raise money for various projects and providing a $500 scholarship to a PNC student.

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