APSU inducts largest first-year class into Alpha Lambda Delta in over a decade

By: Antonia Steele April 1, 2026

Family members take photos of their newly inducted Alpha Lambda Delta students on March 19. | Photo by Chris Tallent

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University’s chapter of the recently inducted 143 first-year students during a ceremony in the Clement Auditorium, making this year’s cohort the largest since 2014.

Alpha Lambda Delta recognizes students who achieve a GPA of 3.5 or higher during their freshman year. Members gain access to leadership opportunities in their chapter and organization-wide scholarships while building a cross-disciplinary network and community.

One student who has taken advantage of these leadership opportunities is Emma Becker, a junior political science major from Clarksville. She currently serves as the honor society’s president, planning meetings and fostering a community-oriented environment for her fellow members.

“We all share a common goal of trying to achieve academic success,” Becker said. “So we’re trying to share what else we have in common and encourage other people.”

Emma Becker reads the Alpha Lambda Delta initiation pledge. Also pictured are Aiden Martin, treasurer; Carolyn Menees; and Rania Kowat, vice president. | Photo by Chris Tallent

Alpha Lambda Delta has had a chapter at Austin Peay since 1980, but in the past three years, a greater push from New Student Programs and Initiatives has helped grow the organization’s presence on campus.

“We are excited to honor first-year academic success,” said Dr. Ryan Combs, director of New Student Programs and Initiatives. “We constantly encourage our students to make the most out of their first semester. When students go to their classes, get involved, and have a fantastic start to their academic journey, they deserve to be celebrated for it.”

Combs and Charli Beth Hill, the coordinator for New Student Programs and Initiatives and Alpha Lambda Delta’s advisor, have grown the program by reaching out to eligible students through AP Navigate. By contacting students directly through a trusted channel, they ensured students understood the organization was legitimate and ready to welcome them.

“I’m getting the opportunity to lead a group of students who are just continuing to grow,” Hill said. “You can see the desire in the students to become more active and engaged on their campus, so that means a lot because �ٳ���’r�� taking ownership.”

By recognizing early achievement and building a community, Combs and Hill aim to set students up for success in their first year and beyond.

“Some of these students may not feel like they have a community within Austin Peay elsewhere,” Hill said. “This gives them an opportunity to feel that sense of belonging that every student needs and deserves to have while �ٳ���’r�� an undergrad, and especially in their first year, because �ٳ󲹳�’s kind of when ����’s established the most.”

For more information about APSU’s Alpha Lambda Delta chapter, contact Hill at hillcb@apsu.edu.