Founded in 1965 by a student at Auburn University, Phi Lambda Sigma, The Pharmacy Leadership Society aims to promote the development of leadership qualities among pharmacy students.

Their mission is “to support pharmacy leadership commitment by recognizing leaders and fostering leadership development” with four main goals:

• Ensure the continuing availability of student and practitioner leaders for the profession of pharmacy
• Acknowledge leadership achievement and award membership to leaders recommended by the Society
• Enhance the talent, skill, and effectiveness of leaders for the profession of pharmacy 
• Support and encourage sustained leadership commitment 

Membership to Phi Lambda Sigma is done through peer recognition, as the organization’s website states, “no greater honor can be bestowed upon an individual than to be recognized by one’s peers. Such recognition instills and enhances self-confidence, encourages the less active student to a more active role, and promotes greater effort toward the advancement of pharmacy.” Eligible students must have completed at least one professional year of work toward a recognized pharmacy degree while maintaining a 2.5 GPA. Their website states, “prospective members are nominated on the basis of their demonstration of dedication, service, and leadership in the advancement of pharmacy.”

There’s currently 125 chapters of Phi Lambda Sigma in the United States and roughly 30,000 members. You’ll notice PLS graduates wearing Kelly green and gold honor cords at commencement.

As a reminder, our team continues to operate with a modified business solution, complete with remote and isolated order processing locations. Our goal is to safely deliver honor and recognition gear to schools and institutions to have ready for their students once graduation dates have been reworked. We understand the importance of graduation regalia and what it means to students and faculty and want graduates to mark their accomplishments in a way in which they deserve. No matter what your commencement ceremony looks like this year, our honor and recognition gear means the same and looks just as great!