Program Overview

The Emerging Leader Program: Leaders for Others

The Emerging Leader Program (ELP) is a premiere leadership program for first-year students at Boston College. Since its inception in 1988, the program has earned a reputation for forming leaders for others. Each year, 50 first-year students are selected to participate in the one-year leadership development program. Guided by the Social Change Model of leadership development, ELP aims to equip and empower students to engage in leadership during their time at Boston College and beyond.

Program Overview

The program is designed to develop the leadership skills and competencies necessary to facilitate positive change on campus and in the community. Through large and small group activities and discussions, events, experiential outings, service, and mentorship, students will develop the ability to lead positive change within their campus and broader communities.

ELP Facilitators

ELP Facilitators foster the leadership development of first-year students while guiding them through their transition into the Boston College community. The facilitators provide a meaningful mentoring relationship and help new students learn what it means to be a leader for others. The current ELP Facilitators are:

• Ben Crooker, MCAS '28 Math, Hometown: Vienna, VA
• Fiona Fatuova, MCAS '28, International Studies, Hometown: Oakland, NJ
• Hunter Franzese, MCAS '28, International Studies & Political Science, Hometown: Montclair, NJ
• Sarah Kemper, MCAS 28', Global Public Health, Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
• Graham Kramer, MCAS '28, English and Economics, Hometown: Marblehead, MA
• Ashley Molina, MCAS '28, Political Science & Environmental Studies, Hometown: Washington Township, NJ
• Ishani Vallabhajosyula, MCAS '28, Political Science & Economics, Hometown: New Haven, CT
• Grace Vengco, CSOM '28, Finance and business analytics, Hometown: Longmeadow, MA
• Wilson Wood, MCAS '28, Human-Centered Engineering, Hometown: Annapolis, MD
• Eddie Yang, MCAS '28, Neuroscience, Hometown: Irvine, CA

Learning Outcomes

By participating in the Emerging Leader Program (ELP), students will:

• Understand, value, and apply the eight core values of the Social Change Model to guide their leadership practice.
• Deepen their self-awareness while gaining a greater appreciation for the identities, experiences, and perspectives of others.
• Build effective, inclusive, and purpose-driven relationships to foster collaboration and shared leadership.
• Recognize the importance of diversity and inclusion in leadership and actively contribute to equitable and respectful environments.
• Develop the ability to engage in respectful, open, and constructive dialogue across differences.
• Understand and apply ethical principles in their leadership decisions and actions.
• Value and participate in civic engagement as a means to contribute to the common good.
• Feel confident and capable in leading positive change within their campus and broader communities.

Career Readiness Competencies

The program develops the following career readiness competencies:

• Leadership: Leverage the strengths of others to achieve common goals, and use interpersonal skills to coach and develop others.
• Teamwork/Collaboration: Build collaborative relationships with colleagues representing diverse cultures, races, ages, genders, religions, lifestyles, and viewpoints.
• Critical Thinking/Problem Solving: Exercise sound reasoning to analyze issues, make decisions, and overcome problems.
• Professionalism/Work Ethic: Demonstrate personal accountability and effective work habits, e.g., punctuality, working productively with others, time workload management, and understand the impact of non-verbal communication on professional work image.

Program Requirements

Participants must be able to fulfill the following requirements:

• Attend the ELP Retreat
• Attend weekly ELP Meetings during both Fall and Spring Semesters
• Participate in service at the Saint Columbkille Partnership School in Brighton, MA
• Attend ELP Outings and Complete ELP Core Experiences
• Be enrolled full time (12 credit hours) at BC for Fall and Spring semesters
• Pay a $150 non-refundable program fee
• Maintain open communication with peers and program facilitators
• Be open to learning and challenging oneself

The Kevin M. Eidt Memorial Scholarship

The Kevin M. Eidt Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to the freshman in the Emerging Leader Program whose leadership skills and potential are best represented by Boston College's philosophies of "Ever to Excel" and being "Men and Women for Others." The scholarship recipient is selected by the director of the Emerging Leader Program and announced each year at the end-of-the-year ELP banquet.

Past Scholarship Recipients

The past recipients of the Kevin M. Eidt Memorial Scholarship include:

• 2025: Daniel Hannoush (Loudonville, NY)
• 2024: Allison Berg (Tacoma, WA)
• 2023: Brody Whetzel (Salem, OR)
• 2022: Aidan Mackey (West Oneonta, NY)
• 2021: Lauren Dadekian (Upper Saddle River, NJ)
• 2020: Audrey Davis (Fanwood, NJ)
• 2019: Henry Bayly (Fort Myers, FL)
• 2018: Fatoumata Sall (New York, NY) and Noella D'Souza (Sharon, MA)
• 2017: Joan Kennedy (San Antonio, TX)
• 2016: Kandace Nguyen (Morrero, LA)
• 2015: Noah Groenewold (Hinsdale, IL)
• 2014: Alec Ellis (Winter Park, FL)
• 2013: Christopher Klotsche (Milwaukee, WI)