The Lambda Sigma Honor Society at Mississippi State University will again receive the highest annual recognition of the National Honor Society for sophomore students.
Amy Knight, adviser to the Lambda Sigma chapter, said the society is a national organization for sophomore men and women at MSU and there is a lengthy process to select the members who meet the requirements. 
“The national organization specifies that membership in each chapter is limited at our institution to 50 members who must be in the top 35 percent of the freshman class,” Knight said.  “Students apply and are selected during the spring semester of their freshman year and are active members during their sophomore year.  Members are required to attend two monthly meetings and complete at least 10 hours of Lambda Sigma approved service during each semester of their sophomore year.”  
According to Knight, the selection process is competitive, with more than 800 students eligible to apply.  
“Every spring, we screen a large number of applications, interview 100 applicants  and invite 50 to join the local chapter.  Formal initiation is held at the conclusion of the selection process at which time officers for the coming year are selected,” she said.
Knight said she is proud of how motivated the groups of students are and how eager they are to serve the community.  
“We are excited about the enthusiasm of this group of students and their hearts for service,” she said.
Knight said the Lambda Sigma chapter joined the Alpha Tau chapter at the University of Alabama to help victims of the tornado that hit Tuscaloosa in 2011. 
“Our chapter has partnered with the Alpha Tau chapter at the University of Alabama for the past two years to complete joint service projects.  Our members travelled to Tuscaloosa during the 2012-2013 school year in response to the tornadoes that hit that area,” she said.
Knight said Lambda Sigma has also partnered with Alpha Tau to spend  time with children in Columbus.  
“Last year, the Alpha Tau members met our students at the Palmer Home for Children in Columbus to spend an afternoon working on the grounds and with the children,” Knight said.
Amy Fountain, another adviser to the chapter, said the society helps the members learn how to be true leaders. 
“The members build their leadership mind in their sophomore year, which is linked to graduation and success,” Fountain said. 
Fountain said she believes doing the projects helps build strong relationships between the community and the university. 
“The service projects that are done in the community really strengthens the relationship between MSU and the community and it also reflects MSU,” Fountain said.
Joshua Rushing, former president of the society, said he felt honored to hold the position of president of the society,  and he really enjoyed making connections and doing service. 
“I was privileged to be the president of the Lambda Sigma Honor Society. It was a wonderful experience. I really enjoyed all of the service projects we took part in and the friends I was able to make. I learned so much about serving the community and helping others,” Rushing said.
Rushing  said being a member of the society taught him great communication and decision making skills.
“I served as the president my sophomore year. I learned so much about communicating with other officers and with the members themselves. As an officer, I was responsible for planning two service opportunities for all of the members. I made phone calls, sent emails and met a few of the representatives in person. I really learned a lot about planning ahead and making decisions when things don’t work out perfectly. Every event won’t always turn out perfectly, but I learned to make the event successful even if I faced problems. I also knew I could depend on every member in Lambda Sigma. I knew they would be at the service projects doing their best to help the city of Starkville in any way possible,” Rushing said.
Rushing said the society gives sophomores the chance to make friends and to make a difference. 
“The Lambda Sigma Honor Society at MSU gives sophomore students the opportunity to get involved. They are able to meet students that are like-minded. We are all focused on making good grades, but we also realize that we owe something to our community. Lambda Sigma offers students an outlet to make friends and serve the Mississippi State campus. People are always looking for a way to get involved. This is a wonderful opportunity. Members are given multiple opportunities to serve on campus and in the city,” Rushing said. 
Rushing also said Lambda Sigma really helped make him a better worker and gave him a new perspective on community service. 
“Lambda Sigma really helped shape the way I work with people and my thoughts about service to the community and to people around me,” he said.