Academics

Penn State Mont Alto celebrates adult learners

Inductees and campus community members attended the 2021 Alpha Sigma Lambda induction at Penn State Mont Alto virtually on April 14.  Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

MONT ALTO, Pa. — Twelve Penn State Mont Alto adult learners and one staff member were inducted into the Zeta Pi chapter of Alpha Sigma Lambda, the nation’s oldest and largest honor society for nontraditional students, on Wednesday, April 14.  

Conducted via Zoom due to ongoing COVID-19 limitations on in-person gatherings, the ceremony was emceed by Bradley Kendall, Penn State Mont Alto supervisor of maintenance and operations, and Alpha Sigma Lambda member and Penn State Mont Alto Chief Academic Officer Michael Doncheski, who also serves as the Alpha Sigma Lambada councilor.

“Although tonight’s ceremony is virtual, that does not diminish the significance of what you have accomplished as students with adult responsibilities,” said Chancellor Francis K. Achampong in his welcome remarks to the inductees. “We are very proud of you, and you should be very proud of yourselves, too.”

Alpha Sigma Lambda was founded in 1946 by Rollin Posey, dean of the University College at Northwestern University, in part to honor individuals continuing their academic pursuits following World War II. The Mont Alto chapter was approved in 2001 and has inducted 419 students since its inaugural class.

To qualify for membership, students must have completed 30 Penn State credits, maintain a 3.20 GPA, and be at least 23 years old.

This year’s inductees are:

  • Sevda Akhmedova
  • Blasia R. Drumm
  • Shannon Nicole Helfrick
  • Holly Hemler
  • Leah Kennedy
  • Kimberly D. Lesher
  • Alberto Fabian Marquez
  • Kelsey Marshall
  • Bret Newbould
  • Denise Tushingham
  • Kara L. Walter
  • Trevor Welch
  • Shawn Albright, network and systems administrator for Penn State Mont Alto, honorary member
Last Updated April 21, 2021