Honor Societies

Alpha Kappa Delta
Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD), the Sociology and Criminal Justice Department honor society, is dedicated to the ideal of Athropon Katamannthanein Diakonesin, or "to investigate humanity for the purpose of service." AKD seeks to acknowledge and promote excellence in scholarship in the study of sociology, the research of social problems, and such other social and intellectual activities as will lead to improvement in the human condition.

Alpha Sigma Lambda
Alpha Sigma Lambda 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.

Kappa Delta Pi
Education students are eligible for membership in Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society in education. Founded in 1911, Kappa Delta Pi represents knowledge, duty, and power. Pioneering from its beginning by including women as well as men, KDP grew from a local chapter to the international organization it is today, comprising 600 chapters and more than 40,000 members. Albert Einstein, George Washington Carver, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Margaret Mead are just a few of the historically known members.

Pallas Society
The Pallas Society is a campus based honor society established at LVC on April 19, 2009. Invitations for the inaugural members of the Pallas Society were extended to students, institute faculty, and staff from the past two Social Justice Institutes, selected LVC alumni who were instrumental in promoting social justice, and students who participated in the 2006 Social Justice Collaborative.

Phi Alpha Epsilon
Membership is limited to senior students who have achieved a 3.6 GPA, completed 24 credits of LVC coursework, and earned a bronze, silver, or gold community service award.

Phi Kappa Pi
Phi Kappa Pi, the Business and Economics Department honor society, is open to business, accounting, and economics majors. Selection is made by department faculty. Membership is open to those with junior or senior status, a department GPA of 3.4 or higher, and a College GPA of 3.25 or higher. Candidates for membership must also exhibit participation in department, college, or community activities demonstrating leadership and non-academic involvement.

Phi Sigma Iota
Phi Sigma Iota, the Department of Languages honor society, recognizes outstanding accomplishment in the study or teaching of any of the academic fields related to foreign language, literature, or culture. These fields include not only modern foreign languages, but also classics, linguistics, philology, comparative literature, bilingual education, second language acquisition, and other interdisciplinary programs with a significant foreign language component. Phi Sigma Iota is the highest academic honor in the field of foreign languages, with 250 chapters of Phi Sigma Iota at institutions of higher learning in the U.S., Mexico, and France.

Phi Sigma Tau
Phi Sigma Tau, the international honor society for philosophers and philosophy majors was founded in 1930; today it has more than 200 chapters throughout the United States and Canada. The purpose of Phi Sigma Tau is to encourage interest and activity among students and to promote ties between philosophy departments in accredited institutions. Phi Sigma Tau publishes a journal, “Dialogue,” for student contributions in all areas of contemporary philosophical research.

Psi Chi
Psi Chi, the Psychology Department honor society, was founded in 1929 for the purposes of encouraging, stimulating, and maintaining excellence in scholarship, and advancing the science of psychology. Membership is open to graduate and undergraduate men and women who are making the study of psychology one of their major interests, and who meet the minimum qualifications.

Students must have a College and departmental GPA of 3.20 or higher. Throughout the year, this group takes part in many fundraisers and community events. Further, they put on a speaker series related to psychology and a conference where students and researchers present their original data. The LVC organization takes pride in sending students to the Eastern Psychological Conference held each spring, and encourages its members to become more involved in the greater society of psychology.

Sigma Pi Sigma
Sigma Pi Sigma, the Department of Physics national honor society, exists to honor outstanding scholarship in physics, encourage interest in physics among students at all levels, promote an attitude of service of its members towards their fellow students, colleagues, and the public, and to provide a fellowship of persons who have excelled in physics. Founded in 1921, Sigma Pi Sigma is a member honor society of the Association of College Honor Societies and has some 75,000 historical members. Election to Sigma Pi Sigma is a lifetime membership.

Sigma Tau Delta
Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society, was established in 1924 to confer distinction for high achievement in English language, literature, and writing. Sigma Tau Delta is dedicated to fostering literacy and all aspects of the English discipline. There are more than 825 local chapters in the U.S. and abroad—and new chapters are established each year. Sigma Tau Delta inductees promote exemplary character and good fellowship and exhibit high standards of academic excellence.

Theta Alpha Kappa
Theta Alpha Kappa is the national honor society for religion studies and theology. Established in 1976, today the society includes more than 200 U.S. chapters ranging from small religiously affiliated colleges to large public research institutions. It is the only national honor society dedicated to recognizing academic excellence in baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate students and in scholars in the fields of religious studies and theology. Students must have a 3.5 GPA in their major studies and a 3.0 GPA overall.

Tri Beta
Tri Beta, the Biology Department honor society, is a society for students, particularly undergraduates, dedicated to improving the understanding and appreciation of biological study and extending boundaries of human knowledge through scientific research. Since its founding in 1922, more than 200,000 persons have been accepted into lifetime membership, and more than 553 chapters have been established throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.

Lebanon Valley College® in Annville, Pa., welcomes 1,600 full-time undergraduates studying more than 30 majors, as well as self-designed majors. Founded in 1866, LVC has graduate programs in physical therapy, business, music education, and science education. Annville is 15 minutes east of Hershey and 35 minutes east of Harrisburg; Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore are within two hours.