Alpha Lambda Delta inducts 129 to kick off Honors Week, announces officers, scholarships and awards

NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University’s chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta, the national honor society for first year students, inducted 129 new members April 14 in a program designed to celebrate academic achievement and leadership potential for first-year students. The purpose of Alpha Lambda Delta is to encourage superior academic attainment 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 unique roles in society. 

In conjunction, induction ceremonies for Blue Key and Purple Jacket honor societies took place April 14 as the first events to commemorate Honors Week at NSU, a series of activities that promote engagement and pride for NSU students and the NSU community. Blue Key and Purple Jackets led Alpha Lambda Delta inductees in procession to symbolically bookend graduation ceremonies, when the honor societies lead the commencement procession.  

Blue Key Honor Society recognizes students at institutions of higher education for balanced and all-around excellence in scholarship, leadership and service.  Blue Key bases eligibility for membership on all-around leadership and integrity in student life, high scholastic achievement and service to others. 

Purple Jackets, a women’s community service group and honor society, was the first honor society established at NSU.  Applicants must be a junior or senior and have served as leaders in other campus organizations to be considered for membership. Purple Jackets are the official hostesses of NSU and members must demonstrate good scholarship, character, spirit of cooperation and. Unselfishness in serving NSU.  

Alpha Lambda Delta will mark its centennial in May.  The NSU chapter made a $500 donation to support the organization’s national scholarship program.   

New members and their hometowns are as follows.  

Abbeville – Caroline LeMaire 

Alexandria – Aaniyah Hardwell, Malaiah Ledet, Devon Powell, Arminie Tanner 

Arcadia – Lauryn Vernon 

Atlanta – Cademon Larson 

Barksdale AFB – Grace Kerney 

Baton Rouge – Catherine Bigham, Mark Dugar 

Benton – Niklaus Jordan, Emily McHugh, Lynsey Plunkett, Ella Robinson, Tyla Stewart 

Bossier City – Melanie Aguilar Noyola, Sophia Livers, Madysen Morgan, Imani Moye 

Broussard – Saige Trahan 

Bunkie – Rushawna Morris 

Cameron – Gabriella Marceaux 

Carthage, Texas – Ace Hall 

Charles Town, West Virginia – Zoe Suire 

Church Point – Payton Cain, Jacia Charlot  

Converse – Willa Gregston  

Coushatta – Rozalyn Taylor 

Dallas – Jorge Bravo Chaves 

DeRidder – Jacob Mullican, Emma Williamson 

Destrehan – Rebecca Scott 

Dry Prong – Audrey Spears 

Eunice – Kyra Davis  

Ferriday – Madison White 

Florien – Alexis Brooks 

Glenmora – Katie Dupre 

Gonzales – Owen Stutzman 

Godley, Texas – Dylan Dunn-Peacock  

Haughton – Chloe Dettrey, Elizabeth Hardy 

Houma – Valerie Galliano 

Jarreau – Emily LaGrone 

Jennings – Margaret Martinez 

Keithville – Kaci Green, Ashlynn McClain, Lauren Moushon 

Kingwood, Texas – Jaime Perdue 

Lafayette – Blake Fontenot, Alex Larent, Tao Ly, Caroline Nelson, Jailey Sylvester 

Lake Charles – Kassie Piatt, Katherine Rion, Caroline Ritchie 

LeCompte – Lanai Miller 

Leesville – James Bradley Bell, Kaitlin Callier, Kylie Fleshman, Camryn Huff, Layla Mouton, Allyce Richards 

Lena – Emily Waits 

Logansport – Jasmine Odom 

Mansfield – Shaniyah Blaze 

Many – Geert Kor IV, Masen Starks, Olivia Williams 

Mamou – Karmen Laurant 

Mansfield – Valentina Puac 

Mansura – Emma Miller 

Maurice – Brooklyn Orr 

Meraux – Abigail Coker  

Monroe – Shemaiah Thornton 

Natchitoches – Eli Dyjack, Joshua Nolley, Destiny Phillips, Timothy Pursell, Kylee Williams 

New Iberia – Addison Camors, Brianna Le 

New Llano – Alexis Blalock 

New Orleans – Valerie Hallot 

New Roads – Gracie Gunter 

Oak Ridge – Lalaina Wood 

Opelousas – Jasmine Barnaba, Abigayle Guillory, Tasia Hayes, Marissa Howard, Daijah Murphy 

Pierre Part – Hayden Alberes 

Pineville – Alyssa Austin, Jillian Gresham, Emily Hamilton, Ashlyn Saucier, Karly Stansell 

Ponchatoula – Silas Falgout  

Provencal – Jesse Foshee  

Raceland – Jordan Barnes  

Rayville – Nicole Miller 

Ruston – Faith Miller 

Schriever – Ellie Dufrene  

Shreveport – Sharye Belcher, Anastasia Douglas, KaBreyha Harris, Julia Jenkins, Christian Meiki 

Slidell – Khali Sylvester 

Sondheimer – Cailen Wiltcher 

Springfield – Kailee Tartamella 

Stonewall – Eloise Boudreaux, Natalie Cobb, Kalea Harris, Brianna Jacobsen, Breanna Murphy, Elana Sepulvado, Braedon Theodos 

Sulphur – Gracie Ancelet, Grace Culpepper 

Thibodaux – Corinne Boudreaux,  

Valrico, Florida – Emily Gundin  

Ville Platte – Samuel Marcantel 

Westwego – Asatiari Moore 

Winnfield – Makenna Cates, Kiara Mchenry, Ella Price 

Woodworth — Caroline Blanchard 

Youngsville – Ella Dupuie  

Dr. Christopher Lyles, director of NSU’s School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, provided the keynote address and was inducted into Alpha Lambda Delta as an honorary member.  

The chapter presented two NSU Alpha Lambda Delta First-Generation Dues Scholarships to Jasmine Barnaba of Opelousas and Jasia Charlot of Church Point.  

Chapter Advisor Reatha Cox installed new officers. They are Abigail Coker of Meraux, president; Emily LaGrone of Jarreau, vice president; Ellie Hardy of Haughton, secretary; Tyler Melna of West Monroe, treasurer and junior advisor; Jasmine Barnaba of Opelousas, service and philanthropy chair; Olivia Williams of Many, faculty/staff liaison; Alexis Blalock of New Llano, scholarship chair, and Cailen Wiltcher of Sondheimer, historian.  Junior advisors are Madison Cook of Vivian, Christopher Richard of Abbeville and Kacy Young of Shreveport.  

NSU’s Army ROTC’s 74th Demon Battalion presented colors for the ceremony with Cadet Jacob Mullican, an ALD inductee, leading the Pledge of Allegiance and members of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia sang the National Anthem.  

Northwestern State University’s Alpha Lambda Delta chapter has consistently achieved recognition from the national organization.   

Kacy Young of Shreveport was recognized as recipient of a Jo Anne J. Trow Scholarship, awarded by Alpha Lambda Delta. Selection is based on maintaining a 3.5 grade point average, academic records, participation in Alpha Lambda Delta activities, campus and community service activities and the applicant’s essay answers.  

The chapter also received the Maintaining the Flame Award which highlights continued excellence in programming, internal communications, campus visibility and overall presentation of their application. NSU’s ALD chapter participates in Demon Days, Sophomore Breakfast Club, Get Loud at the Library, Be a Tourist in Your College Town, NSU Wellness Fest, Yappy Hour and other activities while supporting numerous service projects, such as Fridays at Watson Library, the NSU Food Pantry and Special Olympics.