LATROBE, PA – Benjamin Poole, a junior accounting and finance double major from Murrysville, was recently awarded a $1,000 Jo Anne J. Trow Undergraduate Scholarship for the 2026-27 academic year from the Alpha Lambda Delta (ALD) Honor Society for First-Year Academic Success.
“ALD has provided me extended connections to individuals who bridge gaps within my campus community,” Poole said. “From those connections, the opportunities for and experiences in leadership and service have immensely impacted me.”
Poole serves as president of Saint Vincent College’s ALD chapter and as treasurer for both the Student Government Association and the Finance and Accounting Club. He was a 2024 Wimmer Scholarship Award recipient and is a member of the College’s Mock Trial team. Poole is part of SVC Honors, participating in the Aurelius Scholars of the Great Books and Benedictine Leadership Studies pathways.
“Serving as president during his sophomore year, Ben demonstrated mature leadership and a desire to help others feel welcomed and involved,” said Jody Marsh, C’01, G’15, director of global and community engagement at the College. She serves as advisor for Saint Vincent’s ALD chapter. “He has a natural ability to bring people together, encourage engagement and create a sense of belonging within our chapter. I especially enjoyed our weekly meetings, where Ben’s thoughtfulness and dedication to the success of the chapter were always apparent.”
Marsh added that Poole is highly deserving of the honor as he exemplifies the qualities this national scholarship seeks to recognize through his academic achievement, leadership and service.
“I am grateful for the leadership and dedication he continues to bring to the chapter,” Marsh said, “and I look forward to seeing the impact he will make in the future.”
Fifty Jo Anne J. Trow Undergraduate Scholarships are presented annually by ALD to its members from an international pool of competitive applicants. Award amounts range from $1,000 to $6,000 and are used to assist members in completing their undergraduate degrees. Selection is based on maintaining a 3.5 grade-point average; academic records; participation in ALD, campus and community service activities; and the applicant’s essay answers.
The scholarship was started in 1988 in honor of Trow, the former vice president for student services at Oregon State University. Trow served ALD as a district advisor from 1974 to 1979, as secretary from 1979 to 1983, as president-elect from 1984 to 1985 and as president from 1985 to 1988. During her presidency, the Society’s governing body, the board of directors, was restructured to provide more streamlined operations.
Alpha Lambda Delta
ALD is an honor society that recognizes students’ academic success in their first year at a college or university. Founded in 1924, ALD has installed over 400 chapters to date, inducts approximately 22,000 members annually and is comprised of over 1.4 million lifetime members. ALD’s mission is to encourage superior academic achievement, to promote intelligent living and a continued high standard of learning, and to assist students in recognizing and developing meaningful goals for their unique roles in society. Since 1939, ALD has been a member in good standing with the Association of College Honor Societies, the only national accrediting body for collegiate honor societies.
