BU’s Best Tapped for Scarlet Key Society
Inductees honored for leadership, service, and commitment
In their efforts to change BU, the city of Boston, and the world, some of this year’s graduating seniors mobilized more than 200 students to travel across the country and perform community service. One member of the Class of 2007 collected thousands of hours of volunteer work from students, staff, and faculty as a welcome present to the University’s new president. Another, seeking to promote tolerance and understanding, reached out to representatives from troubled nations around the world and asked them to tell their stories.
In recognition of their service to the University, 21 graduating seniors will be inducted into the Scarlet Key Society, BU’s highest honor for student leadership, on Thursday, May 17. The students, nominated by faculty and staff, were judged in five areas — leadership, commitment, representation, tradition, and academics — and were selected based on both their own successes at BU and the ways they have publicly represented the University.
Two of this year’s recipients, Steve Reilly (CAS’07) and Ben Dauksewicz (CGS’05, CAS’07, GRS’07), were program coordinators for the Community Service Center’s Alternative Spring Break, organizing as many as 20 groups of volunteers who traveled around the United States performing service. Jon Marker (CAS’07), in his final semester as Student Union president, last year asked each student, and alumni, to perform one hour of community service in honor of President Robert A. Brown’s inauguration — an endeavor that led to 41,000 hours of service performed in Boston and around the country. Bilal Bilici (CAS’07), the head of the International Students Consortium, arranged visits and lectures from dignitaries such as Iran’s and Israel’s ambassadors to the United Nations and the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s ambassador to Washington, D.C.
“It’s a huge honor,” says Reilly. “It’s a really nice gesture, especially because you’re recognized for something other than academics. Alternative Spring Break is practically a full-time job, and I think that goes for a lot of people involved in other activities as well.”
Other recipients include athletes, gospel singers, and members of the Admissions Student Diversity Board and of BU’s Reserve Officer Training Corps.
The recipients are Crystal Bates (SMG’07), John Bernier (CGS’05, SMG’07), Bilici, Roger Chen (ENG’07), Dauksewicz, Randy Diamond (SHA’07), William J. Diggs (SMG’07), Stephanie Dreyer (COM’07), Maureen E. Fromuth (CAS’07), Nalini Gupta (CAS’07), Sayaka Koseki (CAS’07), Ross William Lohr (CAS’07), Erinne Losinio (CAS’07, SED’07), Marker, Jared Meshekow (SAR’07, SPH’07), Sara-Marie Pons (SMG’07), Reilly, Marisa Ryan (CAS’07, MED’10), James Walker (SAR’07), Angela Watson (CAS’07, SED’07), and Alison Werner (SAR’07).
The Honorary Scarlet Key Award, which recognizes exceptional alumni, faculty, staff, and trustees, was given to Joseph Mercurio, BU’s executive vice president, Maureen Foley-Reese, a counselor in the College of General Studies, and Daryl DeLuca, director of the Office of Judicial Affairs and Student Safety Programs.
Award recipients will be formally inducted during a Tapping Ceremony on May 17, 2007, at 6 p.m. in the George Sherman Union’s Metcalf Hall.
Jessica Ullian can be reached at jullian@bu.edu.