Cum Laude Society

The Cum Laude Society is an organization that honors academic achievement at secondary institutions, similar to the Phi Beta Kappa, which honors academic achievements at the university level.

History
The Cum Laude Society was founded at the Tome School in 1906 as the Alpha Delta Tau fraternity. Its founder was Dr. A. W. Harris, then director of the Tome School. It was established to encourage and recognize scholastic achievement in secondary schools. Harris also wanted to encourage community and alumni support for secondary schools.

Alpha Delta Tau was created to be similar to the collegiate society, Phi Beta Kappa. It was the first organization of its type for secondary schools in the United States. Only the top fifth of a school senior class was eligible for membership in the fraternity. Originally, it admitted both students and faculty. Its first president was Robert W. Tunstall, head of the ancient languages department at Tome.

The fraternity held its first national convention at Boston University in January 1909. Delegates attended from Tome School, Evanston Academy, Phillips Exeter Academy, and William Penn Charter School. Harris, then president of Northwestern University, became the first president general. Dr. H. L. Rich of Tome School was elected its first secretary general. The fraternity's board of regents set goals of expansion, countering the influence of athletics, and encouraging support for academics.

Alpha Delta Tau changed its name to the Cum Laude Society in 1916. Today, it has 382 chapters; all but twenty are at private or independent schools in the United States. Its national headquarters is in Louisville, Kentucky.

Symbols
The society's Greek motto is Areté, Diké, Timé, which translates as "Excellence, Justice, Honor".

Membership
Approximately 4,000 students are inducted into Cum Laude Society each year. Participating secondary institutions may nominate up to twenty percent of their graduating class for induction into the society.

Chapters
The Cum Laude Society has 382 chapters in eight geographic districts across the United States and abroad.