Jenks Leadership Program

Sandy Jenks ’47 had a vision of a student leadership program that would help shape future leaders in the service of others. Jenks is that vision, named for the BC alumnus and administrator that worked tirelessly for the students. 

Applications are being accepted for Jenks Class of 2026. Deadline is Monday, September 30.

Questions? Please contact Lynn.Benali@bc.edu, Kyle.Butler.2@bc.edu, Terrence.King@bc.edu

About the Program

The Jenks Leadership Program (JLP) is the signature student leadership program of the Winston Center for Leadership and Ethics and the Boston College community. JLP, named for Weston “Sandy” Jenks ’47, identifies and prepares undergraduate men and women to take up leadership roles in the service of others and the common good. Strongly influenced by Robert Greenleaf’s work on Servant Leadership, JLP provides a solid foundation to enable its graduates to become responsible leaders in a global society. This complements Sandy Jenks’s original vision and fits the motto he developed, “Learning for Leadership, Leadership for Service.”


Semester Modules

Individual Leadership (Spring Semester I)
Module one will consist of a series of workshops that work on developing participants’ individual leadership skills.

Team Leadership (Fall Semester I)
Module two’s workshops will focus on the dynamics of team leadership with participants being grouped into small teams (4-5 members) and each team planning a service project.

Service Project (Spring Semester II)
During module three, the teams will execute their service projects.



This program is open to all Boston College freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. The 2024 application process (for Jenks 2026) is open. The deadline is Monday, September 30, 2024.

Selection Criteria:

  1. Commitment to and potential for leadership
  2. Strong commitment to service for others
  3. Ability to contribute to group learning
  4. Commitment to attend and participate in all program events
2018 Graduation Class

Meet the Jenks Class

The Student Advisory and Networking Council

The Student Advisory and Networking Council was created for Jenks alumni who are still enrolled at Boston College. This is an opportunity for students to remain engaged in the Jenks program through graduation. Members of the council serve as ambassadors for the program and promote it to new students, serve as unofficial mentors to current Jenks students, and contribute overall to the program development.

Joseph G. Bonito Servant Leadership Award

The Joseph G. Bonito Servant Leadership Award is presented to a Jenks graduating student who is unanimously selected by the student directors as the person who best exemplifies the Jenks program's motto “learning for leadership and leadership for service.”

Joe Bonito

Joe Bonito

Joe Bonito '79 is the Senior Vice President, Learning & Leadership Development Executive at Bank of America. He holds a BA from Boston College, an MS from the University of Pennsylvania, and an Executive Masters in Human Resource Leadership from Rutgers University. Joe also holds a DBA from Temple University. As an undergraduate student, Joe participated in what was then the Paraprofessional Leader Group (PLG) and later served as a student director. Dubbed by Sandy Jenks as a "rough gem," Joe admired and emulated Sandy and, since he graduated from BC, has continued to give back to the program by leading workshops year after year. In the words of one student who benefited from Joe's tutelage, "Joe has been an invaluable foundation and glue to Jenks and the PLG before that. His unselfish commitment and service to this organization have been exemplary and in the true spirit of Sandy Jenks." Joe has given more than four decades of service to the Jenks Leadership Program, and when we marked the 50th anniversary of the Jenks program, the Joseph G. Bonito Servant Leadership Award was created in his honor.

 

Dylan Carollo

Dylan Carollo '25 (Right) and director, Dylan Breen '24

2024 Recipient

Dylan Carollo '25

Speech by Meghan Heckelman ’25, Jenks Student Director

Every year, the Joseph G. Bonito Servant Leadership Award is presented to a graduating member of the Jenks Leadership Program who best exemplifies the Jenks motto of “learning for leadership and leadership for service.” I am incredibly proud to present this year’s award to one of the most authentic and kind-hearted people I have met at Boston College.

Dylan and I vividly remember this person’s interview in the fall of 2022. This individual captured our attention even during a 15-minute time slot in the hustle and bustle of the Rat at lunchtime. We listened to his every word as he told us about his passion for radio. He humbly shared his incredible pandemic accomplishment: raising over $30,000 for frontline workers through his radio station, D100.

For the past three semesters, this individual has learned, grown, and perfectly encapsulated the tenets of the program we love. It is my great honor to present this award to Dylan Carollo.

In recognizing Dylan, it is imperative to highlight his remarkable leadership style characterized by quiet strength and impactful action. Through his understated yet powerful demeanor, Dylan has inspired me. As you might recall from the “What is Leadership?” workshop in our first semester, many people associate leadership with formal management positions and noisy theatrics. Dylan’s approach is characterized by neither. Instead, he leads by example, demonstrating integrity, empathy, and dedication in every endeavor.

Through his thoughtful and witty contributions to our workshops and small group activities, Dylan fostered a culture of collaboration and reminded us that true leadership is not about being the loudest voice in the room. It is about making an impact and brightening someone’s day through genuine and intentional actions.

Dylan is the model of Ikigai in action. He has consistently demonstrated a keen ability to leverage his talents and interests in the service of others. I often run into Dylan on our way in and out of Carney Hall. In a teeny tiny studio in the basement, Dylan records weekly episodes of Discover Boston College, a podcast highlighting student experiences and accomplishments. He invites the guests, coordinates the schedule, hosts the conversations, and edits the episodes before publication. His service project group spearheaded an initiative to recognize our unsung campus heroes, including an interview spotlight component. You would never know all this, though, because Dylan is the epitome of humbleness. He is one of those people who never looks for a pat on the back – he does what he does to make people smile.

I have learned so much by watching Dylan for the past three semesters. His commitment to serving as a man for and with others sets him apart as an outstanding leader, friend, and person. When he makes it big one day, I can’t wait to say I knew Dylan. Congratulations!

Photo Gallery

Weston M. "Sandy" Jenks

Weston M. "Sandy" Jenks founded the Leadership Training Group in 1967 to prepare students for leadership roles in groups and organizations. This group was soon rebranded as the Paraprofessional Leader Group (PLG). Jenks was strongly influenced by the work of Robert Greenleaf (Servant Leadership) and John Gardner (author, presidential advisor, and founder of Common Cause). In 1992, on the occasion of the PLG's 25th anniversary, the program was renamed the Jenks Leadership Program in his honor. The focus today continues to be on leadership in service to others.

Jenks founded the Office of Counseling Services at Boston College and served as its Director for 21 years. He was a counselor and confidante to scores of Boston College students during a career that spanned 47 years, beginning when he arrived as a freshman at age 16, in 1941.