A P U B L I C A T I O N O F L A M B D A S I G M A N A T I O N A L H O N O R S O C I E T Y L E A R N I N G F R O M T H E U N E X P E C T E D F A L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 0 B y B e c k i L e o n a r d I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E Have you ever taken a moment to think about how you President's Greeting • P. 2 got to where you are today? Reflecting on your journey to your current place in life may reveal that some aspects were very intentionally planned and others seem In Memoriam • P. 4 to have happened in a totally random or unexpected way. This is called the Happenstance Learning Theory. Basically, this theory states that we are the result of Scholarship Recipients • P. 6 many planned and unplanned experiences, and we learn from each and every experience we have. Chapter Projects • P. 8 No one could have predicted that COVID-19 would alter the way our world works. When you joined Lambda Upcoming Deadlines, Sigma in the spring, you probably couldn’t have Chapter Roster, National Board predicted that your participation in the organization Directory • P. 12 would look the ( c o n t i n u e d o n p a g e 2 ) L E A R N I N G F R O M PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE T H E U N E X P E C T E D ( c o n t i n u e d f r o m c o v e r ) A little over a year ago during the Presidents’ Leadership Conference in Atlanta I was elated to be way it currently does. elected as the President-Elect of Lambda Sigma That’s okay. Happenstance National Honor Society’s National Executive Board. I Learning Theory tells us was honored just to be asked to serve on the board that unexpected events several years ago and never imagined being elected are going to happen and to such a position. What I did NOT expect, though, we are going to learn was to take over my three-year term as National from them. President in the fall of 2020 during a massive pandemic. I was nervous enough to follow in the I challenge you to con- footsteps of great folks like John Hauser, Denise Rode, sider what you have and Jane Price Harmon, but to step in to the role in already learned from your 2020 added a whole new layer of anxiety. time in Lambda Sigma. Chances are, you have While I briefly lamented the situation earlier this fall, I gained skills that you quickly got over it because I am fortunate to be didn’t have before (like working with an exceptional group of board members. running Zoom meetings) I know that with their help we’re going to get through the challenges of 2020 and beyond. However, it also and adapted to new ways occurred to me that I was not alone in being thrown of doing things (such as this curve; so were the new chapter presidents, virtual fellowship-building executive boards, and members of our dozens of instead of in-person). chapters. As you have probably heard from countless While you likely face people over the past several months, we’re all in this challenges, the fact that together! you are persisting, re- maining optimistic, and An academic school year is already challenging, but adapting proves that you throw in a mix of a virus, virtual learning, and are learning from this quarantines, and you hit an entirely new level of unplanned experience. As stressful. So I greatly admire all of the new Lambda you continue your time in Sigma members who are working hard to fulfill the Lambda Sigma, be mission of this great organization in addition to intentional about how you everything else going on approach this unexpected right now. I cannot lie, I situation--this experience really wondered how this could have a significant year would go as the reality impact down the road, of the pandemic set in over you just don’t see it yet. the summer. Well, our National Presidents’ When you look back on Leadership Conference was your time in Lambda virtual for the first time ever Sigma years from now, I in September, but the hope you are able to participation level was high appreciate the oppor- and reception very positive. tunity you had to grow and learn from this ( c o n t i n u e d o n p a g e 3 ) unexpected situation. P a g e 2 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE ( c o n t i n u e d f r o m p a g e 2 ) Already we’re hearing of some In high school I was involved with appreciate the many wonderful really creative ways chapters are many musicals (don’t worry, I won’t efforts from the chapters, convening virtually and carrying break into song!), and when we hit advisors, and National Executive out service projects in a socially obstacles the mantra was always Board to make that happen. Take distanced world. Chapters are “The show must go on.” I feel that care of yourselves and your loved staying engaged, meeting way about this year. It’s not what ones. Hopefully, next year we’ll deadlines, and generally making any of us saw coming and convene for the Presidents’ the best out of this crazy year. It’s certainly not what any of us WANT Leadership Conference in all so encouraging to see, and it to deal with in our time with Pittsburgh and share our 2020 reaffirms how lucky I am to be Lambda Sigma. However, the stories in person! involved with this honor society. show must and will go on, and I Excellence in Mission Statement Teaching Mugs Lambda Sigma Society, a national honor B l u e c e r a m i c c o f f e e m u g s w i t h t h e G r e e k l e t t e r s society for second-year students, is L a m b d a S i g m a a n d dedicated to the purpose of fostering “ E x c e l l e n c e i n T e a c h i n g ” a r e a v a i l a b l e f o r $ 7 . 5 0 leadership, scholarship, fellowship and e a c h . C o n t a c t N e a l service among its members as they E d m a n t o p l a c e y o u r o r d e r . H i s c o n t a c t promote the interests of the colleges and i n f o r m a t i o n i s o n t h e universities they represent. w e b s i t e a n d o n t h e l a s t p a g e o f T h e D i a m o n d . THE 2020 NATIONAL PRESIDENTS' LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE GOES VIRTUAL In late spring the National Board reluctantly made the decision to move the annual National Presidents' Leadership Con- ference online this fall due to the pandemic. Despite missing the in- person gatherings, the virtual format proved to be a success. The conference attendees participated in interactive ice breakers and were given many of the same tips and best practices for running their chapters that the (continued on page 11) P a g e 3 I N M E M O R Y O F D A V I D L E M A I R E B Y A D E L E B O U D R E A U X , C H I C H A P T E R P U B L I C R E L A T I O N S Coronavirus has affected many lives and altered what we consider to be normal. The Chi Chapter of Lambda Sigma at Louisiana Tech University has had a unique experience during the memorable coronavirus pandemic. Due to the uncertainty that came with having to move off-campus and take classes online, organizations on Louisiana Tech’s campus, and campuses around the country, had to pivot and make a new game plan for acquiring new members in the spring. Over the summer, the 2020 cohort of Lambda Sigma conducted interviews for potential new initiates virtually. Potential new members submitted videos answering interview questions, giving the has been intentional in honoring Additionally, we put an increased executive board the unique David through service projects and focus on building fellowship among opportunity to know each building fellowship at every moment our members since so few of us contender. A week later, the new we can, even through zoom. could get to know David before his members met on zoom for their David was elected to be a Co- passing. We have started choosing first meeting, holding executive Service Chair, which entailed members to give random fun facts officer elections and getting to creative ideas, planning service at the beginning of our meetings as know one another over zoom.