Alpha Gamma Sigma (; AGS) is the honor society of the California Community Colleges system. It was founded at Fullerton College in 1926. The society has 97 chapters in the state of California

History

William T. Boyce founded the California Junior College Honor Scholarship Society at Fullerton College in 1926. Boyce was the college's head administrator and, later the college's president. He envisioned the honor society as "an intellectual stimulus, comparable to that of Phi Beta Kappa in the higher colleges" The advisory board included faculty advisory of existing local honor societies that were eligible to join the California Junior College Honor Scholarship Society. After the students requested a Greek letter name, a committee was appointed to select a name.

In 1940, it was incorporated in California as Alpha Gamma Sigma, the California Junior College Honor Scholarship Society. The society's colors are gold and black.

Its members may wear the society's silver pin. Its original pin was a gold shield bearing an open book and blazing torch with "California" across its top, "Honor Society" across the book, and "JC" at the bottom.

Membership

Potential members are enrolled in a California community college and have completed twelve units with a grade point average of 3.0.

Service Awards

  • Ed Walsh Outstanding Service Award for service to chapters, campuses, and communities
  • The Walsh applicant with the highest rating earns the Randy Taylor Award.
  • The two Walsh applicants who receive the next highest ratings earn the Charles Bell Service Award

Academic Awards

  • Kathleen D. Loly Scholarship Award recognizes Alpha Gamma Sigma's most outstanding scholars.
  • The two Loly applicants who receive the highest ratings earn the Virginia Coffey Award.
  • The Robert Mantovani Award recognizes those Loly applicants who have "provided outstanding service and leadership to their chapters, campuses, and communities."
  • Tom Jackson Award recognizes the top Mantovani Award winner.

Governance

The Alpha Gamma Sigma State Advisory Board is composed of the advisors of all chapters.

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  • Alpha Gamma Sigma State Organization