Who We Are

Our Founder

In 1945, Dr. Rollin Posey was Dean of the University College at Northwestern University. He had inherited an honorary named Alpha Sigma Lambda but not, it seemed, a history, constitution or bylaws. He decided to remake Alpha Sigma to serve the needs of his students.

He invited students to attend a meeting in early January 1946 to “consider the establishment of an Honor Society, Alpha Sigma Lambda, in order that we may have some means of recognizing superior scholarship among our students. Apparently, the students liked the idea, and he drew up a proposed constitution. In it, he expanded on what he thought the Society should be.

Alpha Sigma Lambda:

The First Sixty Years

Colors, Crest and Symbolism

Our Colors

Our Pledge

Burgundy denotes power, action, and the confidence to go after your dreams. The color of blood – the essence of life and living. Gold denotes wisdom, wealth used wisely, prosperity, success, good health, and optimism.

I promise to uphold the ideals and further the aims of Alpha Sigma Lambda, believing that by doing so I shall increase my value to my college and to my community.

Our Crest and Symbolism

Alpha – (Α) – First
Sigma – (Σ) – Scholarship
Lambda – (Λ) – Leadership

“First in Scholarship and Leadership”

Book: Love of Knowledge
Lamp: Wisdom
Torch: Life

Colors, Crest and Symbolism

Our Colors

Burgundy denotes power, action, and the confidence to go after your dreams. The color of blood – the essence of life and living. Gold denotes wisdom, wealth used wisely, prosperity, success, good health, and optimism.

Our Pledge

I promise to uphold the ideals and further the aims of Alpha Sigma Lambda, believing that by doing so I shall increase my value to my college and to my community

Our Crest and Symbolism

Alpha – (Α) – First
Sigma – (Σ) – Scholarship
Lambda – (Λ) – Leadership

“First in Scholarship and Leadership”

Book: Love of Knowledge
Lamp: Wisdom
Torch: Life

Board of Directors & Staff

Alpha Sigma Lambda
is recognized as the official honor society for adult learners by the Association of College Honor Societies.

Alpha Sigma Lambda’s aim is to recognize the special achievements of adults who accomplish academic excellence while facing competing interests at home and work. It is dedicated to the advancement of scholarship and recognizes high scholastic achievement in an adult student’s career. By so doing, this Society encourages many students to continue toward and to earn associate and baccalaureate degrees.


Through leadership born of effort, both scholastically and fraternally, Alpha Sigma Lambda inspires its candidates to give of their strengths to their fellow students and communities through their academic achievements.


To the newcomer in higher education, Alpha Sigma Lambda stands as an inspiration to scholastic growth and an invitation to associate with similarly motivated students.

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Alpha Sigma Lambda