By Tiffeny Fields
Features Editor

Alpha Sigma Lambda grew April 15, when the Mu Delta Chapter at UNCP inducted 108 students into the nationally known honor society, increasing it’s membership to over 300 members strong.

The society, in its third year on campus, honors the achievements of the non-traditional student who “juggles many balls,” according to Saundra Richardson, coordinator of the Center for Adult Learners.

Balancing raising a family with work and school, places a lot of demands on these students who are generally older. They are usually 24 or older and have been away from school for a number of years.

Because they’ve been out in the real world for a while, they “value education,” Richardson said.

“These non-traditional students are not slack at all. They’re coming to class and they’re the best students,” Richardson said.

“They are by far the best students because a lot of them have experience to bring to the classroom,” she said.

According to the center’s web page, “national statistics indicate that almost 50 percent of all college students are considered ‘nontraditional.’” At UNCP, non-traditional students account for about 40 percent of the student population.

As the only chapter-based honor society of its kind for non-traditional students in the country, the organization provides “inspiration to scholastic growth and an invitation to associate with similarly motivated students,” according to the group’s mission statement. “It inspires its candidates to give of their strengths to their fellow students and communities.”

“The non-traditional students really need something that’s theirs,” Richardson said. “This is their thing. It’s different from the traditional fraternities and sororities.”