Alpha Lambda Delta Scholarship

ALUMNUS RECEIVES SCHOLARSHIP FOR GRADUATE STUDY

Tyler Atkinson, 2007 graduate of Texas Wesleyan University, has received the Katharine Cooper Cater Fellowship Award for the 2007-2008 academic year. The Cater Fellowship Award is one of 23 fellowships awarded annually by Alpha Lambda Delta, the national first-year honor society, to members for graduate study.

Atkinson will attend Baylor Law School this fall. He graduated from Texas Wesleyan in May with a Bachelor of Science in political science with a pre-law emphasis. He was president of the Texas Wesleyan chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta (ALD) for the 2005-2006 school year, and under his leadership, the Texas Wesleyan chapter received national recognition for increased attendance (the Silver Star Award). Most recently, Atkinson served as a junior advisor to the current member of ALD.

Atkinson was active with many campus organizations at Texas Wesleyan, including Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl, the M.D. Anderson Pre-Professional Society, Mediation Competition, Model Arab League, Phi Alpha Delta (pre-law fraternity), Student Government Association, Texas Undergraduate Moot Court Association, Texas Wesleyan Golden Shears, The Rambler, and the Wesleyan Innocence Project. He was a Hatton W. Sumners Scholar, and received the Political Science Achievement Award (given by the political science department at Texas Wesleyan).

Linda Carroll, associate professor of English, advises the Texas Wesleyan chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta with Beth Battles, professor of English. In a letter of recommendation for the scholarship, Carroll wrote, "[Atkinson] did not simply fulfill the duties of ALD President, but he proved to be a natural and dynamic leader, motivating our small membership and setting a standard of excellence. Tyler never asked the members to undertake a project that he was not willing to do....As an educator for thirty-five years, I believe that I understand the qualities a student needs in order to be successful. Tyler certainly possesses those qualities: self-motivation, curiosity, energy, and responsibility. Colleagues who have had Tyler in class openly comment that he always prepares thoroughly for each class, fulfilling the designated assignments with detailed proficiency and clear-sighted intellectualism."

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