Sigma Lambda Alpha (honor society)

Sigma Lambda Alpha (ΣΛΑ) is a North American scholastic honor society that recognizes academic achievement among students in the field of landscape architecture. It was established in 1977 at the University of Minnesota by the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture.

History
Beta Alpha Sigma, an honor society for landscape architecture, allied arts, and urban planning at Michigan State University in the 1960s, inspired Sigma Lambda Alpha. In 1976, the president of the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA), professor R. E. Toth, had the idea of establishing a collegiate honor society for landscape architecture students. The CELA executive board established Sigma Lambda Alpha was founded at University of Minnesota in Minneapolis on September 24, 1977.

Wiliam H. Snyder of the University of Idaho was appointed the first executive secretary of Sigma Lambda Alpha and was charged with convening a task force to form the society. Sigma Lambda Alpha was established as a scholastic honor society to recognize the academic achievements of landscape architecture students and help prepare them for their careers in landscape architecture. The purpose of Sigma Lambda Alpha is "to encourage, recognize, and reward academic excellence in preparation for the profession of landscape architecture". It places a strong emphasis on leadership and preserving the traditions of husbandry of the land.

Sigma Lambda Alpha was admitted to the Association of College Honor Societies in 1983 and achieved full membership in 1986. It was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in Michigan on April 11, 1989. However, it continues to pperate within CELA.

As of 2011, the society had chartered 55 collegiate chapters in the United States, along with its Alpha Founders Chapter for distinguished and founding members. It became international in 2014 with the chartering of a chapter at the University of Guelph in Canada. Since 1977 the society has inducted 10,443 members. Its records from 1972 to 2007 are archived at the University of Idaho.

Symbols
The Greek letters Sigma, Lambda, and Alpha were selected to represent "Scholar, Landscape Architect". Sigma Lambda Alpha's colors are gold and green. Its mottos are “Scholar, architect of the land, embraces the whole of nature and art” and “Fit mankind to the earth and the earth to mankind.”

Activities
The society provides an annual award for contributions to landscape architecture scholarship and historical literature. Sigma Lambda Alpha awards scholarships to one undergraduate and one graduate student each year. It also awards six travel grants annually to its members.

Membership
Members include undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff, and professionals. Membership is open to landscape architecture undergraduate students with a 3.4 GPA and graduate students with a 3.5 GPA who have completed one-third of the degree requirements. The society invites faculty, staff, and professionals to join as Honorary or Distinguished Members based on their accomplishments.

Chapters
Following is a list of Sigma Lambda Alpha chapters.

Notable members

 * Grant Jones, landscape architect
 * Geraldine Knight Scott, landscape architect and professor at the University of California, Berkeley