Jenks Leadership Program

Sandy Jenks 鈥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.听

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听Weston 鈥淪andy鈥 Jenks 鈥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鈥檚 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鈥檚 original vision and fits the motto he developed, 鈥淟earning for Leadership, Leadership for Service.鈥


Semester Modules

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

Team Leadership听(Fall Semester I)
Module two鈥檚 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听(Spring Semester II)
During module three, the teams will execute their听service projects.



This program is open to all Boston College freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. The next application period will be in fall 2025.

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听Joseph G. Bonito Servant Leadership Award听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 鈥渓earning for leadership and leadership for service.鈥

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.

Emma Rooney

Emma Rooney '27 (left) and director, Katie Garrigan '25

2025 Recipient

Emma Rooney '27

Speech by Katie Garrigan 鈥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 鈥渓earning for leadership and leadership for service.鈥 It is an honor to present this year鈥檚 award to someone who embodies these values through every action, conversation, and commitment she makes鈥擡mma Rooney.

Nick, Alexis, and I have recognized Emma鈥檚 commitment from the moment she joined the program. Emma has shown up fully, authentically, and consistently as a leader in Jenks. She is always the first one there in Fulton 515 and has been an active participant in every workshop throughout the program. That dedication speaks volumes, but Emma鈥檚 impact goes far beyond her attendance.

She was a cornerstone of her Jenks service project group, offering structure, clarity, and steady support that helped bring the group鈥檚 vision for 鈥淏C Builders鈥 to life. She approaches teamwork with a selfless mindset, asking,听How can I support others? What does the community need?听That mindset reflects not just her leadership, but her heart.

Emma brings that same passion and purpose to everything she does, especially when it comes to preparing for her future. She is driven by a love for learning and a deep desire to help others, with plans to pursue a career in dentistry or orthodontics. Whether it is here at Boston College or back home in New York, Emma鈥檚 commitment to serving her community shines through. She is thoughtful, intelligent, and grounded in values that will carry her far, making a real difference along the way.听

Emma represents the very best of Jenks. She is curious, compassionate, and committed to becoming a leader who serves with integrity. She reminds us that leadership does not always have to be loud to be powerful and that often, the strongest leaders are those who lead by example, with humility and quiet conviction.

Emma, thank you for all the ways you have shown up, not just for your group, but for this program, and for everyone lucky enough to learn from you. It is my joy to present the 2025 Joseph G. Bonito Servant Leadership Award to you. 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.