NSU’s ALD First Year Honor Society earns national recognition for continued excellence

October 17, 2024

NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University’s chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta Academic Honor Society for First Year Students has won the Maintaining the Flame Award for the 2023-24 academic year.  The Maintaining the Flame Award recognizes ALD chapters that consistently stand out nationally.

NSU’s ALD chapter won the Order of the Torch national award in 2022.  Chapters awarded the Order of the Torch are ineligible to apply for the award for the next four years, but to reward continued excellence, the ALD national board of directors bestows the Maintaining the Flame Award to chapters that have demonstrated continued excellence in chapter involvement, communication, visibility and overall presentation during the academic year.

The successful chapter at NSU was led by Chapter President Brooke Straight of St. Francisville, Vice President Christopher Richard of Abbeville, Public Relations Chair Peyton Fuller of Buckeye, Treasurer Tyler Melna of West Monroe, Service and Philanthropy Chair Stormy Carpenter of Goldonna, Faculty/Staff Liaison Bryce Juneau of Cottonport, Historian Bradie Villemarette of St. Francisville, Scholarship Chair Tatum Waites of Benton and Junior Advisors Kacy Young of Shreveport and Madison Cook of Vivian.  Chapter Advisor is Reatha Cox, vice president of The Student Experience and Dean of Students.

“Throughout the school year, I have constantly felt so accomplished and proud of our chapter and officer board,” Straight said. “Receiving this award reflects the hard work and dedication that our members have displayed throughout each semester. Academic excellence is something that we prioritize, but we also prioritize the student experience. The Maintaining the Flame award showcases how the NSU ALD chapter succeeds at both. We always want to make sure students realize that they can excel academically, get involved and have fun all at the same time.”

Northwestern State was one of six chapter in the United States to earn the distinction, along with Baylor University, Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis, Kent State, University of Oklahoma and Saint Vincent College.

Alpha Lambda Delta is an honor society that recognizes students’ academic success in their first year at a college or university. Founded in 1924 and active on 280 campuses, Alpha Lambda Delta inducts 22,000 members annually and has over 1.3 million lifetime members. Alpha Lambda Delta’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.” Since 1939, Alpha Lambda Delta has been a member in good standing with the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS), the only national accrediting body for collegiate honor societies.

Alpha Lambda Delta officers in the award-winning chapter for this past academic year, 2023-24 are, from left, Kacy Young, junior advisor; Bradie Villemarette, historian; Christopher Richard, vice president; Brooke Straight, president, Tyler Melna, treasurer, and Madison Cook, junior advisor.

Current 2024-25 officers in Alpha Lambda Delta are, from left, Kacy Young, junior advisor; Jazz Barnaba, service chair; Ellie Hardy, secretary; Liv Williams, faculty/staff liaison; Christopher Richard, junior advisor; Emily LaGrone, vice president; Cailen Wiltcher, historian; Abigail Coker, president; Tyler Melna, treasurer and junior advisor; Lexi Blalock, scholarship chair, and Madison Cook, junior advisor.