Alpha Epsilon Lambda was founded in 1990 by former officers of the National Association of Graduate and Professional Students, with the specific objective of recognizing and honoring the academic and leadership accomplishments of graduate and professional school students. Its mission is to:

• Promote leadership development and scholarship,
• Encourage intellectual development and high standards of ethical behavior,
• Enrich the intellectual environment of graduate education institutions, and
• Confer distinction for high achievement.

Before AEL, no honor society was devoted exclusively to recognizing graduate students.

AEL began as an organization of individual members at campuses throughout the country. In 1992, the first chapters were formed at University of Florida, University of Miami and Kutztown University, and the number of chapters has grown exponentially since.

The name of Alpha Epsilon Lambda was developed based upon the society's mission of recognizing Academic Excellence and Leadership. The AEL insignia, key, seal and certificates were designed using the same book motif that was used by the National Association of Graduate and Professional Students and incorporate a key background design used by Florida Blue Key, the University of Florida leadership fraternity.

The Alpha Zeta Chapter of AEL recognizes graduate and professional students who have made significant contributions to their academic department and the University and who have distinguished themselves in the areas of leadership, scholarship, intellectual development, and ethics. According to our chapter’s Constitution, the purposes for organizing the chapter are:

• To recognize, promote, and foster outstanding and high academic achievement among graduate and professional school students,
• To provide service to graduate and professional school students and student organizations at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and
• To encourage and support development of all graduate and professional school student organizations at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The Alpha Zeta chapter of Alpha Epsilon Lambda currently has approximately 100 members. The advisor for the chapter is Dr. Liz Thurston, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at the Graduate School. The Constitution of the chapter was updated in April 2005 and can be accessed by following the link provided at the bottom of the page. All members are automatically signed up for the chapter listserv, which serves as the primary means of communication among members of the chapter.

The 2005 Membership application can be accessed by following the link provided at the bottom of the page.

The 2005 induction ceremony took place on March 31, 2005 at 5:30pm, at the Graduate Student Center on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The program from the event can be accessed by following the link provided at the bottom of the page. Pictures from the event are also available.

The Graduate School recognized this year's honor society inductees at the 7th annual Graduate Student Recognition Ceremony on Thursday, April 7, 2005 from 3 pm to 6 pm at the Alumni Hall in the George Watts Hill Alumni Center. The program included North Carolina research displays, an awards ceremony, and a reception with a string quartet. The recognition event honors outstanding graduate and professional students who contribute so much to the University community and the state of North Carolina. Graduate and professional students are essential to the mission of the University.

All AEL members are invited to participate as ushers and celebrants in the doctoral hooding ceremony, to take place Saturday, May 14, 2005. For more information, please contact the AEL advisor, Liz Thurston.

The next meeting of the honor society, at which we will elect next year's leadership and discuss other events that are being planned, is scheduled for Thursday, April 21 at 5pm at the Franklin Street entrance of the Graduate Student Center. All AEL members are invited to attend.

The 2004-2005 leadership of the chapter consisted of:

Current members who are interested in joining the 2005-2006 leadership of the honor society are invited to email the chapter president. The selection of the 2005-2006 leadership will take place at the meeting on April 21.