Qualifying for Alpha Lambda Delta

Zoe Reardon studies business and world languages at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Texas. A Second Century Scholar at the school, Zoe Reardon was invited to and joined Alpha Lambda Delta.

An honor society that provides members with a community of like-minded scholars, financial assistance, various discounts, and opportunities to help those in need, Alpha Lambda Delta has been operating for nearly a century. Membership in the organization is by invitation only. Eligible students not only must be enrolled at an institution with an Alpha Lambda Delta chapter on campus, they also must have a full-time course schedule and a 3.5 grade point average (GPA) or higher during their first year or semester (depending on the chapter).

Students who meet these requirements are sent an email or letter with information about joining Alpha Lambda Delta. Joining the organization requires a one-time membership fee that helps local chapters cover operating expenses. Once joined, membership to the organization cannot be revoked if a student’s grades drop below the initial 3.5 GPA minimum. Further, member students are allowed to wear organization regalia during graduation ceremonies. Those who do graduate with a GPA of 3.5 or higher also receive a special certificate denoting the achievement.

SMU Niemi Center Engages Business Students in Meaningful Research

Based in Texas, Zoe Reardon was awarded a four-year, merit-based scholarship to study business and world languages at Southern Methodist University (SMU). A member of SMU’s Alpha Lambda Delta honor society, Zoe Reardon also serves as a peer academic leader.

SMU, a private research university in Dallas, is home to the Edwin L. Cox School of Business and a variety of centers and institutes that advance business education. One of these institutions is the Niemi Center, which was named in honor of Dean Albert W. Niemi, a man who served as an administrator and professor at the Cox School for 20 years.

Providing an educational foundation in American capitalism, courses at the Niemi Center also teach how the dynamics of capitalism are changing. In addition to academic courses, the Niemi Center offers undergraduate and graduate students the chance to participate in meaningful research fellowships to promote positive change in the world.

Atlanta International School Offers Music Lessons after School

A student at Southern Methodist University (SMU), Zoe Reardon is pursuing a double major in business and world languages. Previously, Zoe Reardon graduated from the Atlanta International School (AIS), where she completed an International Baccalaureate diploma.

AIS, a private school in Atlanta that includes primary, middle, and upper grades, takes a comprehensive and global approach to education. In addition to foreign language classes and international travel opportunities, AIS cultivates the artistic and creative side of students through an after-school music program.

For more than 10 years, AIS has offered independent music lessons outside the regular school day. Lessons are taught by qualified and experienced music instructors and offered to all interested students.

The school also has several musical ensembles, including the Upper School Band and Orchestra, the Middle School Band and Orchestra, and Primary School Strings. All students participating in the orchestras are encouraged to take private lessons in the after-school program.

Projecting Voice on Stage Without Yelling

A student at Southern Methodist University SMU in Texas, Zoe Reardon studies business and world languages at the undergraduate level. Zoe Reardon has worked several times for The Alliance Theater camp and was responsible for teaching basic theater skills to groups of students between the ages of four and six.

Every theater actor must be capable of projecting their voice so that they can be heard throughout the theater. However, some actors will yell instead of projecting when speaking on stage. Yelling uses the vocal cords to create volume and will make the throat sore over time. Conversely, projecting involves creating more sound with breath from the diaphragm. This air gives actors more control over the amount of sound they produce and gives their voice more depth.

Projecting the voice instead of yelling begins with relaxing the body. Doing so loosens up the muscles in the chest and jaw, thus freeing actors to reach a greater range of volume as they change the amount of air they take into their lungs. Yawning is one way of loosening these muscles, as is doing shoulder rolls or neck rolls prior to a performance.

Beyond relaxing the body, actors must look at their breathing techniques. Many people incorrectly believe that the bulk of their breath is stored in the lungs. Because of this, they will expand their chests as they breathe in. In reality, the diaphragm holds most of a person’s air and the diaphragm is located in the stomach. Due to this, actors who breathe with the correct technique have their stomachs rise and fall as they breathe.

Finally, it’s important that actors aim their voice out. This means that instead of talking to the other actors on stage, individuals must be aware that they are actually talking to the audience. When speakers confidently aim their sound to the back wall of the theater, they are more successful at projecting their voice so the audience can hear it without yelling.