By Traci Vanaken
Alpha Lambda Delta (ALD) is an honor society for students who have maintained a 3.5 GPA or higher and are in the top 20 percent of their class during their first year or term of higher education.
In the past, the Portland Chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta has not been very active.
This year, my fellow officers and I are working on some fun service projects and events to help bring an identity to ALD on campus.
Students are admitted, if eligible, in the spring of their freshman year.
Here is some information about ALD on the university campus, as well as information about a national scholarship offered in the name of a University of Portland faculty member.
Alpha Lambda Delta was established on the University of Portland Campus in 1989 by James Stemler. Dr. Stemler served as an advisor for the University of Portland Chapter until July 31, 2009, when he retired.
The current advisor is theology professor Matthew Baasten.
In honor of James Stemler, a scholarship is being offered to students who are Junior or Senior members of Alpha Lamdba Delta.
The scholarship is a national program, offering ten scholarships, each valued at $1,000.
In the United States, there are approximately 255 chapters.
Each of these chapters will be eligible to submit applications to the national contest.
The University of Portland will be eligible to submit one application this spring.
In order to be competitive for the Stemler Scholarship, one must be active in their local chapter, but being an officer is not necessary.
The applicant must have at least a 3.5 GPA, but a GPA closer to 3.75 would be more competitive. Applications for this scholarship are available on the National Alpha Lambda Delta website and must be submitted to our local chapter by early March.
If you are a member of Alpha Lambda Delta and are interested in this scholarship opportunity, more details will follow in the spring.
There are many ways that you can begin becoming involved in our local ALD chapter.
We are currently collecting canned food for the Oregon Food Bank in the Pilot House, and have many committees that are working on more activities for the spring. Become involved in our local chapter to become a more competitive individual for the national Stemler Scholarship.
Traci Vanaken is an undeclared
sophomore
