One year before, Dean Thomas Arkle Clark had founded Phi Eta Sigma, an honor society to recognize academic excellence among freshmen males.

[1][2] At the first meeting of the chapter, Florence Finn, president of the society, presented a passage from Plato's Republic in which Socrates asks the question, “Will they hold torches and pass them to one another...?”.

This idea, together with the symbol of a candle and the concept of sharing the love of learning with others, caught the imagination of the charter members.

[2] Alpha Lambda Delta has continued to be innovative and responsive in recognizing academic excellence by providing Senior Certificates and the Maria Leonard Senior Book Award since 1939, offering workshops since 1978, recognizing outstanding chapters with the Order of the Torch Award since 1989, recognizing an Outstanding Adviser of the Year since 1990, and taking advantage of technology by posting a national web site in January 1997.

Members are entitled to wear Alpha Lambda Delta honor cords at their graduation exercises.

[3] The Alpha Lambda Delta pillars are Academics, Scholarships, Service, Career Development, and Belonging.

[4] Each year, National Alpha Lambda Delta awards over $211,000 in scholarships and fellowships to members.