Students win ALD scholarships
Every year, thousands of students try to win scholarships to help pay for their college tuition. At Liberty University, the National Alpha Lambda Delta (ALD) society has a chapter in the national honor society. Liberty ALD scholarships are awarded to outstanding members with awards ranging from $1,000-$6,000.
New initiates can apply for the National Jo Anne Trow Scholarship Award. This year, the award was given to Abigail Coyle and Rachel Walters. Coyle is a Kappa Delta Pi and Alpha Lambda Delta officer studying education. Walters, studying nursing, is an honor student and an athlete. Both are active members of ALD.
This year, the Liberty ALD chapter initiated more than 300 members, allowing them to submit three applicants for the 2014 award.
“Candidates will be considered on the basis of merit,” Bessie Grayson, the administrative advisor for ALD, said. “Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent) to be eligible. Official transcripts from each college and university attended and letters of recommendations from two references are also required.”
In addition to outstanding academics, applicants were required to submit essays detailing the value of ALD.
“The application consisted of several questions in which I had to provide detailed responses,” Coyle said. “I had to write a 250-word essay on the value of Alpha Lambda Delta to my undergraduate education. I also had to get two recommendation letters.”
According to Coyle, Liberty’s chapter of ALD has competed nationally and received several distinguished awards.
“It is cross-disciplinary and is a stellar opportunity to get leadership experiences for joining an honor society within your particular major,” Coyle said.
Walters, a junior teaching assistant with a 4.0 GPA, first discovered the Jo Anne award on the Splash Page. She applied with hopes of boosting her extracurricular activities.
“I figured I had nothing to lose by applying,” Walters said. “GPA doesn’t count for everything.”
Coyle said she was honored to receive such a sizable scholarship as well as the distinction that comes with being an ALD scholarship recipient.
“It was a huge blessing to receive this award and very humbling and surprising to receive it, considering there were hundreds of people who applied nationwide,” Coyle said.
According to Grayson, only 36 scholarships are given out yearly. After students submit their applications, the ALD Chapter Scholarship Committee decides if applicants can move forward to compete at the national level.
“Leadership is the main quality that they are looking for in potential recipients,” Coyle said. “I was the secretary for Alpha Lambda Delta last year, so I was very involved in planning events, collaborating with my fellow officers/advisers and recording meeting minutes.”
Liberty’s ALD chapter will host its next initiation in April 2015. For more information on honor societies and programs, visit liberty.edu/academics/casas.