Alpha Lambda Delta is one of the top 20 Recognized Students Organizations. Founded nationally in 1924, ALD is on 279 American college campuses. At the University of New Haven ALD inducts members based off the academic performance of each student’s first semester on campus. Members have to have at least a 3.5 percent and be in the top 20 percent of the class.

Once initiated, members have the opportunity to go out to community service events, as well as take part in fun social activities exclusive for members.

ALD currently has a five member e-board. A Sergeant at Arms, Treasurer, Executive Assistant, Vice President, and a chapter president. A big initiative of the UNH ALD chapter every year is to enter a national scrapbook contest, showcasing what the chapter has done throughout the course of the previous year.

The winners of the contest win an award called The Order of the Torch. Awarded to select chapters by National ALD, The Order of the Torch can only be won every four years. This year, the UNH chapter of ALD won the Order of the Torch again.

Tuesday Sept. 29, in Gehring 301, a ceremony was held by National ALD for the UNH ALD chapter to celebrate this prestigious accomplishment.

Lisa Ruch, a representative from National ALD, came  from IIUPI to present. In her presentation, Ruch mentioned how “this chapter has done so much. Your scrapbook portrayed this very well. Your programs in play such as the points system and after meeting socials are very inventive and Nationals is thrilled how this chapter has taken initiative.”

The points system refers to a reward program ALD runs. Members can receive points for going to meetings, staying for socials afterwards, going out on ALD trips, responding to meeting minutes, or even doing community service outside of ALD.

The top point earners are then given a trip somewhere at the end of the year.
Last year, top point earners were given a trip to Skyzone Trampoline Park.

Ruch also mentioned how “community service events such as your Ronald Mc Donald house visit last spring really showcases the civic virtue of ALD members.”

ALD has also recently gone to the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, at which they volunteered to distribute food to walkers who had raised money to go towards Alzheimer’s research. The event was held at Lighthouse Point in New Haven. Thirteen members went to help for ALD.

Ruch also gave kudos to Lisa Carpenter, a junior who won the Trow Scholarship from ALD. Lisa is the first UNH ALD member to win the Trow scholarship. Hopefully she encourages others to apply for monetary opportunities.

Provost Daniel May also spoke. May commended ALD members for “taking the initiative to be at the top of your class. Keep doing what you’re doing and I’m sure UNH will put out even more competent young professionals.”

After the ceremony, members present went the First Year Success Center to enjoy cake courtesy of Nationals.

“It was absolutely amazing when I received the letter in the mail that the University of New Haven’s chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta had won the Order of the Torch Award, an award given to the top chapters of ALD every year,” said President Nick Sallucci. “To have actual National ALD representatives come to our school to present the award was outstanding. I would have never thought that taking on the role as President I would be overcome with all of this. Now, I realize that I have big shoes to fill. Along with winning this award, we also won an award for the increase in the amount of members we have. We received over 170 new members last semester, which is a huge deal amongst ALD all over. Now, it is my goal to beat that number and make every first-year student aware of what lies before them. I know that with my e-board, I can accomplish this.”