This academic year, 26 seniors will be inducted into Emerson College’s Purple Key Leadership Society, a recognition for high academic and civic engagement achievement created in the fall of 2012 to replace Emerson’s Who’s Who.

To earn this achievement, students must have completed at least 88 credits before the fall 2013 semester, and have had a 3.0 or higher cumulative grade point average. Students also needed to have been in good social standing with the college, according to Ronald Ludman, dean of students. 

Anyone who met these credentials was invited to apply to the Society in the fall. Ludman said the applications were reviewed by a committee consisting of current juniors and staff members from academic and student affairs.

To earn this award, students must have been a part of a leadership and service organization, have had high academic achievement, have participated in citizenship and civic engagement, and been seen to have future leadership skills, according to Ludman.

“I’m extremely grateful for getting this award,” said Dylan Manderlink, an interdisciplinary major and current recipient. “I am really thankful for the leadership opportunities that I’ve had at Emerson. It’s a great award because it recognizes students and it’s a really humbling experience.”

Manderlink is the president of Kappa Gamma Chi, a professional sorority, and the president of Emerson Peace and Social Justice. She has served on Emerson’s Family Weekend and sustainability committees and works at the Office of Service Learning and Community Action.

Rebecca Isenhart, a recipient of the recognition, said she was thrilled to be acknowledged.   

“When I was at Emerson, I put all my time and effort to better the community, so it’s nice to get recognized for it. We get a purple cord for graduation, and it’s really all about the colors,” said Isenhart, who graduated in the fall.

Isenhart was a resident assistant for two years and restarted Emerson’s chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists, and was its president for two years, she said.  

Manderlink, Isenhart, and the other 24 students will be inducted during the Emerson Recognition and Achievement Awards ceremony on Sunday April 13.

Deputy news editor Hunter Harris, a member of Kappa Gamma Chi, did not edit this article.