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Sigma Lambda Alpha (honor society)

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This article is about the honor society. For the Latina sorority, see Sigma Lambda Alpha (sorority).
Sigma Lambda Alpha
ΣΛΑ
FoundedSeptember 24, 1977; 47 years ago (1977-09-24)
University of Minnesota
TypeHonor Society
AffiliationACHS
StatusActive
EmphasisLandscape Architecture
ScopeInternational
Colors  Gold and   Green
Chapters54
Members10,443 lifetime
HeadquartersPO Box 115706
Gainesville, Florida 32611
United States

Sigma Lambda Alpha (ΣΛΑ) is a North American scholastic honor society that recognizes academic achievement among students in the field of landscape architecture. It was established in 1977 at the University of Minnesota by the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture.

History

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Beta Alpha Sigma, an honor society for landscape architecture, allied arts, and urban planning at Michigan State University in the 1960s, inspired Sigma Lambda Alpha.[1] In 1976, the president of the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA), professor R. E. Toth, had the idea of establishing a collegiate honor society for landscape architecture students.[1] The CELA executive board established Sigma Lambda Alpha was founded at University of Minnesota in Minneapolis on September 24, 1977.[2][3][1]

Wiliam H. Snyder of the University of Idaho was appointed the first executive secretary of Sigma Lambda Alpha and was charged with convening a task force to form the society.[1] Sigma Lambda Alpha was established as a scholastic honor society to recognize the academic achievements of landscape architecture students and help prepare them for their careers in landscape architecture.[4][1] The purpose of Sigma Lambda Alpha is "to encourage, recognize, and reward academic excellence in preparation for the profession of landscape architecture".[5] It places a strong emphasis on leadership and preserving the traditions of husbandry of the land.[5]

Sigma Lambda Alpha was admitted to the Association of College Honor Societies in 1983 and achieved full membership in 1986.[5] It was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in Michigan on April 11, 1989.[6][1] However, it continues to pperate within CELA.[3][4]

As of 2011, the society had chartered 55 collegiate chapters in the United States, along with its Alpha Founders Chapter for distinguished and founding members.[1] It became international in 2014 with the chartering of a chapter at the University of Guelph in Canada.[7] Since 1977 the society has inducted 10,443 members. Its records from 1972 to 2007 are archived at the University of Idaho.[1]

Symbols

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The Greek letters Sigma, Lambda, and Alpha were selected to represent "Scholar, Landscape Architect".[7] Sigma Lambda Alpha's colors are gold and green.[3] Its mottos are “Scholar, architect of the land, embraces the whole of nature and art” and “Fit mankind to the earth and the earth to mankind.”[1]

Activities

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The society provides an annual award for contributions to landscape architecture scholarship and historical literature.[8] Sigma Lambda Alpha awards scholarships to one undergraduate and one graduate student each year.[9][7][10] It also awards six travel grants annually to its members.[9][10]

Membership

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Members include undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff, and professionals.[5] Membership is open to landscape architecture undergraduate students with a 3.4 GPA and graduate students with a 3.5 GPA who have completed one-third of the degree requirements.[5] The society invites faculty, staff, and professionals to join as Honorary or Distinguished Members based on their accomplishments.[4][5]

Chapters

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In the following list, active chapters are indicated in bold and inactive chapters are in italics.[11][1][5]

Chapter Charter date Institution Location Status References
000001 Alpha 1977 Alpha Founders; Members-at-Large Active
000002 Beta 1978 University of Idaho Moscow, Idaho Active
000003 Gamma 1978 Michigan State University East Lansing, Michigan Active
000004 Delta 1979 Texas A&M University College Station, Texas Active
000005 Epsilon 1978 Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, Louisiana Active
000006 Zeta 1979 Utah State University Logan, Utah Active
000007 Eta 1979 University of Minnesota Minneapolis Minnesota Active
000008 Theta 1979 California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, California Active [12]
000009 Iota 1979 University of Arizona (see Alpha Zeta) Tucson, Arizona Active
000010 Kappa 1979 Texas Tech University Lubbock, Texas Active
000011 Lambda 1979 Pennsylvania State University Active
000012 Mu 1979 California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Pomona, California Active
000013 Nu 1979 State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse, New York Active [13]
000014 Xi 1979 Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana Active
000015 Omicron 1979 University of Florida Gainesville, Florida Active
000016 Pi 1980 Washington State University Pullman, Washington Active
000017 Rho 1980 Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio Active
000018 Sigma 1980 University of Georgia Athens, Georgia Active
000019 Tau 1981 Ball State University Muncie, Indiana Active [4]
000020 Upsilon 1981 Rutgers University Active
000021 Phi 1981 Kansas State University Manhattan, Kansas Active
000022 Chi 1982 University of California, Davis Davis, California Active
000023 Psi 1982 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, Illinois Active
000024 Omega 1982 Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Virginia Active
000101 Alpha Alpha 1983 Morgan State University Baltimore, Maryland Active
000102 Alpha Beta 1984 West Virginia University Morgantown, West Virginia Active
000103 Alpha Gamma 1985 University of Wisconsin–Madison Madison, Wisconsin Active
000104 Alpha Delta 1985 Oklahoma State University–Stillwater Stillwater, Oklahoma Active
000105 Alpha Epsilon 1985 Auburn University Auburn, Alabama Active [9]
000106 Alpha Zeta 1987 University of Arizona (see Iota) Tucson, Arizona Active
000107 Alpha Eta 1988 University of Texas at Arlington Arlington, Texas Active
000108 Alpha Theta 1988 University of Colorado Denver Denver, Colorado Active
000109 Alpha Iota 1988 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas Active
000110 Alpha Kappa 1990 University of Washington Seattle, Washington Active
000111 Alpha Lambda 1988 Mississippi State University Starkville, Mississippi Active
000112 Alpha Mu 1989 University of Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky Active
000113 Alpha Nu 1989 Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado Active
000114 Alpha Xi 1990 University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan Inactive
000115 Alpha Omicron 1990 University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst, Massachusetts Active
2014 University of Guelph Guelph, Ontario, Canada Active [7]
Clemson University Clemson, South Carolina Active
Florida International University Miami, Florida Active
Iowa State University Ames, Iowa Active
New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University Ithaca, New York Active
North Carolina A&T State University Greensboro, North Carolina Active
North Carolina State University Raleigh, North Carolina Active [14]
South Dakota State University Brookings, South Dakota Active
Temple University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Active
University of California, Berkeley Riverside, California Active
University of Nebraska–Lincoln Lincoln, Nebraska Active
University of Nevada, Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada Active
University of Rhode Island Kingston, Rhode Island Active
University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia Active

Notable members

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Sigma Lambda Alpha Honorary Records Sigma, MG 430". Archives West, Orbis Cascade Alliance. Moscow, Idaho: Special Collections and Archives, University of Idaho Library. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  2. ^ An Historical Summary of the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture by Michael Richard Hodges and Miriam Easton Rutz, Landscape Journal, Vol. 16, No. 1 (Spring 1997), pp. 108-114
  3. ^ a b c Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. VI-100-101. ISBN 978-0963715906.
  4. ^ a b c d "Tau Chapter, Sigma Lambda Alpha National Honor Society for Landscape Architecture at Ball State University - Benny Link". Ball State University. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Anson, Jack L. and Marchesani Jr. Robert F., eds. Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, 20h edition. Indianapolis: Baird's Manual Foundation, 1991. p. VI-100 – VI-101. ISBN 0-9637159-0-9
  6. ^ Noted on Charity Navigator, accessed 16 Oct 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d Corry, Robert (November 4, 2014). "Sigma Lambda Alpha Honor Society begins at UofG: BLA Student Wins Scholarship | School of Environmental Design and Rural Development". University of Guelph. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  8. ^ "News". View. 5. Library of American Landscape History, Inc.: 10 2005. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  9. ^ a b c "MLA Students Receive Funding from Sigma Lambda Alpha". College of Architecture, Design and Construction. July 27, 2023. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  10. ^ a b "Rachelle Roake (MLA '21) wins Sigma Lambda Alpha 2021 Scholarship | University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability". seas.umich.edu. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  11. ^ "Sigma Lambda Alpha". Honor Society. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  12. ^ "Student Clubs". Cal Poly Landscape Architecture. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  13. ^ Mickel, Angie (2015-05-11). "Mike Ingersoll Recognized by Sigma Lambda Alpha Nu Chapter". The LA Group Landscape Architecture and Engineering PC. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  14. ^ "Sigma Lambda Alpha Chapter Established – College of Design | 75th Anniversary". North Carolina State University. 2023-02-03. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
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