For those seeking to maximize their academic experience, Honor Societies exist for several different pursuits.
Alpha Alpha Alpha
Tri Alpha was established and inducted its first class at UWA in 2020. The purpose of Alpha Alpha Alpha is to recognize academic achievements in first-generation college students, create enthusiasm for scholarship, to promote leadership and to provide support networks for first-generation students within and across college chapters.
Officers, advisors and active faculty/staff inductees shall support UWA in creating and sustaining an environment in which each student is known, accepted and valued, trusted and respected, cared for and encouraged to be an active and responsible member of the school community. They shall also help to create a network of support for first-generation students, whether or not those students are eligible for induction.
Eligibility
Eligible students must be:
- enrolled as full-time degree candidates in a bachelor degree program;
- must have a minimum overall grade point average of 3.2 (on a 4.0 scale);
- and must have completed at least 36 credit hours towards a bachelor’s degree.
Neither parents, step-parents or guardians of the student may have completed a bachelor’s degree.
If you believe you are eligible please apply to Tri Alpha.
Tri Alpha National Office
Contact
Andrea Farquhar, Advisor, afarquhar@uwa.edu
Alpha Chi
Since 1922, Alpha Chi has distinguished itself as one of the top national honor societies in the nation. We recognize exceptional student scholars and unite them around one goal—channeling creativity and curiosity into scholarship that serves the greater good.
Alpha Chi’s mission, in part, is to broaden our members’ collegiate experience by:
- Encouraging Student Creativity and Research
- Fostering Excellence and Service in Action
- Promoting Personal Growth through Diversity
- Equipping Compassionate Listeners and Leaders
- Providing a Path for Academic and Professional Mentoring
- Exemplifying How to Make Scholarship Effective for Good
Every honor society celebrates academic achievement, but at Alpha Chi we’re all about making scholarship effective for good and influencing the world for the better.
Contact
Martinique Waters, Advisor, mwaters@uwa.edu
Alpha Delta Nu
The Alpha Delta Nu Nursing Honor Society is the only honor society that recognizes the academic excellence of students in the study of Associate Degree Nursing. Alpha Delta Nu encourages the pursuit of advanced degrees in the profession of nursing as well as continuing education as a life-long professional responsibility. Additionally, the society shall participate in the recruitment of qualified individuals into the profession of nursing.
Contact
Rhonda Gonzalez, Advisor, rgonzalez@uwa.edu
Alpha Psi Omega
Alpha Psi Omega (ΑΨΩ), a National Theatre Honor Society for participants in collegiate theater, began in the early 20th century as a result of the growing interest in dramatic arts among colleges and universities throughout America, with the aim of encouraging dramatic production at every step in a person’s academic career. Alpha Psi Omega has enjoyed continuous national growth and, with over 600 casts, is the largest national honor society in America.
Contact
Rhonda Wooley, Advisor, rwooley@uwa.edu
Blue Key Honor Society
Blue Key is one of UWA’s oldest and most respected honor societies. Since its inception in 1967, over 825 members have been initiated. Throughout the years, the top percent of student leaders and scholars appear on the rolls of Blue Key. The society recognizes outstanding students in terms of scholarship, leadership, and service to the university and community. Blue Key members have continued to be outstanding leaders and professionals who have made contributions in all walks of life. It recognizes upperclassmen and graduate students from every college of the university for their meritorious campus performance and honors them with continued leadership opportunities to promote the high ideals of education, citizenship, and service through the auspices of the University of West Alabama.
Contact
Leslie White, Advisor, lwhite@uwa.edu
Blue Key National Office
Cardinal Key National Honor Society
Cardinal Key is an Honor Society composed of selected students with a 3.0 GPA and an admirable record of scholarship, leadership and community service. An organization for students of at least junior status who are leaders in the college community and who are deemed potential leaders in the future, the Society aims to honor these, inspire leadership in others and utilize leadership capabilities in an active program of service to the school, community and country.
The purposes of Cardinal Key are to recognize achievement in scholarship and extracurricular activities; to advance personal growth, patriotism and service by affording training for leadership in the college community; and to develop worthy character by application of the cardinal virtues of living.
Contact
Emily Stuart, Advisor, estuart@uwa.edu
Iota Tau Alpha
The Purpose of Iota Tau Alpha Athletic Training Education Honor Society is the promotion and encouragement of scholarly activity in athletic training and the recognition of outstanding achievement among students enrolled in athletic training education programs. Iota Tau Alpha activities shall be designed to stimulate interest, scholarly attainment and investigation in Athletic Training Education, and to promote the dissemination of information among students of Athletic Training Education.
Contact
Codie Washburn, Advisor, cwashburn@uwa.edu
Kim Griffith, Advisor, kgriffith@uwa.edu
Kappa Delta Pi
Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education, was founded by William Bagley, Truman Kelly and Thomas Edgar Musselman in 1911 at the University of Illinois to foster excellence in education and promote fellowship among those dedicated to teaching. The founders chose the name from the Greek words knowledge, duty and power.
Kappa Delta Pi members keep good company. Albert Einstein, George Washington Carver, Eleanor Roosevelt and Margaret Mead are just a few members that have made outstanding contributions to the development of professional education.
For over a century, the Society has consistently grown, starting with a local chapter to become the international organization it is today, with an initiated membership that exceeds 1.2 million.
Mission
The Mission of Kappa Delta Pi is to sustain an honored community of diverse educators by promoting excellence and advancing scholarship, leadership and service.
Vision
The vision of Kappa Delta Pi is to help committed educators be leaders in improving education for global citizenship.
Contact
Kim Griffith, Advisor, kgriffith@uwa.edu
Lambda Pi Eta
The University of West Alabama is home to the Alpha Chi Nu chapter of Lambda Pi Eta honor society, which recognizes outstanding students in the field of communication. UWA students in the integrated marketing communications (IMC) major who meet the required criteria are offered membership into Lambda Pi Eta.
Lambda Pi Eta Goals:
- Recognize, foster, and reward outstanding scholastic achievement in Communication Studies
- Stimulate interest in the field of Communication
- Promote and encourage professional development among Communication majors
- Provide an opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas in the field of Communication
- Establish and maintain closer relationships between faculty and students
- Explore options for graduate education in Communication Studies
Fall Industry Immersion Experience
Each fall semester, members of Lambda Pi Eta visit communication agencies across the southeast for a fun and informative immersion into different facets of the industry. Recently, members visited the World of Coca-Cola and CNN Center in Atlanta, GA, for an in-depth look at international branding and news. Future excursions will include a sports communications-focused trip to New Orleans, LA, and a music and publicity-themed trip to Nashville, TN.
Contact
Amanda Gilliland, Advisor, agilliland@uwa.edu
Omicron Delta Kappa
Omicron Delta Kappa is a national honor society that has as its purpose the recognition and promotion of leadership of exceptional quality and versatility. The UWA Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa (O∆K) was chartered on April 3, 1987. Since this first initiation, our circle has included many deans, vice presidents and current UWA President Dr. Ken Tucker.
Mission
- Identify, honor, and develop leaders in collegiate and community life.
- Encourage collaboration among students, faculty, staff and alumni to advance leadership.
- Promote and publicize our ideals.
Vision
As the most respected and effective leadership honor society, Omicron Delta Kappa strives for excellence in leadership and character development.
O∆K ideals include: Scholarship, service, integrity, character and fellowship.
Five Phases of Campus Life
- Scholarship
- Athletics
- Campus or Community Service, Social and Religious Activities, and Campus Government
- Journalism, Speech and Mass Media
- Creative and Performing Arts
Contact
Wes Watkins, Advisor, wwatkins@uwa.edu
Order of Omega
Order of Omega is a leadership honor society for members of Fraternity & Sorority organizations. Order of Omega recognizes upperclassmen who have exemplified high standards in the areas of scholarship, leadership, involvement within their respective organization and within the fraternity/sorority, campus and local community. Members share the common goal of recognizing the many outstanding student leaders at their institution.
Order of Omega members are selected from the highest achieving fraternity or sorority members (must be a sophomore, junior or senior to apply) at UWA. To date, over 575+ chapters have been chartered throughout North America with over 250,000 members initiated since 1959.
Contact
Leslie White, Advisor, lwhite@uwa.edu
Phi Alpha Theta
Phi Alpha Theta brings students, teachers and writers of history together for intellectual and social exchanges, which promote and assist historical research and publication by our members in a variety of ways.
Contact
Christopher Haveman, Advisor, chaveman@uwa.edu
Phi Eta Sigma
Phi Eta Sigma was founded on March 22, 1923, to encourage and reward high scholastic achievement among members of the freshman class at UWA. This statement expresses simply the inspiration that moved the founders of Phi Eta Sigma in their formation of the society. A few basic principles—dedicated leadership, devotion to students, prudent management, constant improvement in efficiency—all infused with an enthusiastic commitment to service have served Phi Eta Sigma for nearly a century, and are ready to function for many more.
Contact
Angela Ward, Advisor, award@uwa.edu
Phi Kappa Phi
Phi Kappa Phi is more than a line on a résumé. The nation’s oldest and most selective multidisciplinary collegiate honor society initiates approximately 25,000 members a year on more than 325 campuses in the United States, its territories and the Philippines.
More than 1.5 million members have joined its ranks since Phi Kappa Phi’s founding in 1897 at the University of Maine. It is a global network of the best and brightest, a community of scholars and professionals building an enduring legacy for all generations.
Contact
Kyla Pratt, Advisor, kpratt@uwa.edu
Pinnacle
Pinnacle Honor Society recognizes nontraditional students enrolled in 4-year degree programs for the peak of their academic careers. Pinnacle chapter memberships are issued to accredited colleges and universities which, in turn, select outstanding adult and other non-traditional seniors and “rising seniors” for recognition at the local and national level.
Contact
Lasandra Patrick, Advisor, spatrick@uwa.edu
Psi Chi
Psi Chi is an international honor society founded in 1929 whose purpose shall be to encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship of the individual members in all fields, particularly in psychology, and to advance the science of psychology. Our mission is to recognize and promote excellence in the science and application of psychology.
Contact
Martinique Waters, Advisor, mwaters@uwa.edu
Sigma Tau Delta
Sigma Tau Delta, International English Honor Society, was founded in 1924 at Dakota Wesleyan University, is for students at accredited colleges and universities that grant baccalaureate or higher degrees. Established in 1924 to confer distinction for high achievement in English language, literature and writing, and dedicated to fostering literacy and all aspects of the discipline of English.
Contact
Lesa Shaul, Advisor, lcc@uwa.edu