Phi Lambda Sigma (), also known as the National Pharmacy Leadership Society, is a North American
college
A college (Latin: ''collegium'') may be a tertiary educational institution (sometimes awarding degrees), part of a collegiate university, an institution offering vocational education, a further education institution, or a secondary sc ...
honor society
In the United States, an honor society is an organization that recognizes individuals who rank above a set standard in various domains such as academics, leadership, and other personal achievements, not all of which are based on ranking systems. ...
for
pharmacy
Pharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing and monitoring medications, aiming to ensure the safe, effective, and affordable use of medication, medicines. It is a miscellaneous science as it ...
students. It was founded at
Auburn University
Auburn University (AU or Auburn) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 26,800 undergraduate students, over 6,100 post-graduate students, and a tota ...
in March 1965.
History
Charlie Thomas, a student at the
Auburn University
Auburn University (AU or Auburn) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 26,800 undergraduate students, over 6,100 post-graduate students, and a tota ...
School of Pharmacy, founded Phi Lambda Sigma in March 1965, with the support of the faculty.
The mission of Phi Lambda Sigma is to support pharmacy leadership commitment by recognizing leaders and fostering leadership development. After two years of probation, Phi Lambda Sigma received its charter from the Auburn University Student Senate on October 3, 1967.
It was incorporated in
Lee County, Alabama
Lee County is a County (United States), county located in east central Alabama. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census the population was 174,241. The county seat is Opelika, Alabama, Opelika, and the largest city is Auburn, Alabama, ...
, on June 28, 1968, as Phi Lambda Sigma National Fraternity.
The name Phi Lambda Sigma was registered with the U.S. Bureau of Patents and Copyrights in 1968.
The society also worked with
Balfour Company to design its official key in 1968.
The society became national in 1971 with the chartering of the ''Beta chapter'' at
Samford University
Samford University is a Private university, private Christian university in Homewood, Alabama, United States. It was founded by Baptist Church, Baptists in 1841 as Howard College and located until 1887 in Marion, Alabama. It is governed by an in ...
.
Other chapters followed throughout the 1970s, including
Mercer University
Mercer University is a Private university, private Research university, research university in Macon, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1833 as Mercer Institute and gaining university status in 1837, it is the oldest private university in the s ...
, the
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia (UGA or Georgia) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university with its main campus in Athens, Georgia, United States. Chartered in 1785, it is the oldest public university in th ...
, the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC, UNC–Chapel Hill, or simply Carolina) is a public university, public research university in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1789, the university first began enrolli ...
, and the
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina (USC, SC, or Carolina) is a Public university, public research university in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1801 as South Carolina College, It is the flagship of the University of South Car ...
.
In 1980, the society announced its plans for national expansion.
As of February 2018, a Phi Lambda Sigma Chapter had chapters at 125 of the 138 American schools and colleges of pharmacy.
It had Phi Lambda Sigma had initiated 30,000 members.
The society was admitted to the
Association of College Honor Societies
The Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS) is a voluntary association of national collegiate and post-graduate honor societies. It was established on December 30, 1925 by six organizations: Alpha Omega Alpha, the Order of the Coif, Phi B ...
(ACHS) in 2018.
Symbols
Phi Lambda Sigma's insignia is a key pin, which has a mortar and pestle and the Greek letters , surrounded by a laurel wreath.
The society's colors are green and gold.
Its publication is ''The Laurel''.
Activities
The society hosts an annual leadership summit that provides a certificate and five hours of continuing education units. The summit is open to non-members. Phil Lambda Sigma annually awards scholarships to its student members, including the Charles C. Thomas Scholarship, the Kathlene A. Hawkins Memorial Travel Award, and the PLS-AFPE First Year Graduate Scholarship. The society also presents a variety annual awards, including:
*
Albert B. Prescot Leadership Award
* Alumni of the Year Award
* Charles Thomas Leadership Challenge
* Chapter Development Award
* Chapter Member of the Year Award
* Chapter of the Year Award
* Outstanding Chapter Advisor Award
* Mary L. Euler Lifetime Leadership Award (aka Procter & Gamble National Leader Award)
Membership
Phi Lambda Sigma has student, alumni, faculty, and honorary members.
Student members must complete at least one year of coursework toward a pharmacy degree with a 2.50 GPA.
In addition, potential student members must be committed to pharmacy leadership and be "of high moral and ethical character".
Faculty and honorary members are nominated for the dedication, leadership, and service in the field of pharmacy.
Members are peer-selected by current members of the society.
Because Phi Lambda Sigma is an honorary professional organization, its members are allowed to join other fraternal and pharmacy organizations.
Chapters
Phi Lambda Sigma chapters has chartered 134 chapters in North America, as of 2024.
Notable members
*
Gireesh Gupchup, vice president for academic innovation, planning, and partnerships for
Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University is a system of public universities in the southern region of the U.S. state of Illinois. Its headquarters is in Carbondale, Illinois.
Board of trustees
The university is governed by the nine member SIU Board of T ...
and former dean and professor of the
SIUE School of Pharmacy
SIUE School of Pharmacy is an academic unit of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville located in Edwardsville, Illinois, United States. Opened in 2005, it is one of six pharmacy schools in Illinois and the only one located outside the Chicag ...
.
*
Timothy Tucker, pharmacist and former president of the
American Pharmacists Association
The American Pharmacists Association (APhA, previously known as the American Pharmaceutical Association), founded in 1852, is the first-established professional society of pharmacists in the United States. The association consists of more tha ...
See also
*
Honor society
In the United States, an honor society is an organization that recognizes individuals who rank above a set standard in various domains such as academics, leadership, and other personal achievements, not all of which are based on ranking systems. ...
*
Professional fraternities and sororities
Professional fraternities, in the North American fraternity system, are organizations whose primary purpose is to promote the interests of a particular profession and whose membership is restricted to students in that particular field of profes ...
References
External links
*
{{authority control
Association of College Honor Societies
Student organizations established in 1965
Business organizations based in the United States
1965 establishments in Alabama