The Leadership Certification Program (LCP) has received recognition for it’s outstanding community service in Erie and other communities for the third year in a row.

The Mercyhurst College chapter of the LCP was honored with the title of “Most Dedicated Chapter to Community Service” by the National Society of Leadership and Success.

Mercyhurst’s chapter of the LCP began in the fall of 2005. The LCP is a program “designed to recognize and develop the leadership potential of undergraduate students.” This is done through speakers, workshops, activities and breakout sessions. Annually 100-140 students participate in LCP.

The Mercyhurst chapter of LCP completed the application needed to be considered for the award and fulfilled the society’s criteria for the award.

At least 10 percent of the chapter’s members must participate in at least one type of service during the year. According to Darcey Kemp, Mercyhurst North East’s dean of students and former adviser for LCP, Mercyhurst had 100 percent participation in community service, including Christmas on Campus and Martin Luther King Jr. Day events.

According to the Mercyhurst website: “There are 257 chapters and more than 130,000 members eligible to compete for this award, which includes a $500 check for the student chapter.”

In addition to this award, 11 members of LCP received the organization’s National Excellence in Leadership Award for 2010-11.

“Receiving this award for three consecutive years is an excellent demonstration of our students’ commitment to living the mission of Mercyhurst College and embracing our core value as ambassadors of service,” Kemp said.
The students and recent graduates from the program include Whitly Breakey, Edana Depto, Dania-Janeil Dixon, Felicia Guerra, Adrianne LaGruth, Eileen McDonnell, Tanna Mezacapa, Abigail Robinson, Carmen Urrutia, Anthony Wanner and Ellen Wilson. Forty student members were also awarded presidential status for achieving a GPA of 3.3 or higher, according to the Mercyhurst website.

Abigail Robinson, a recent graduate of the program said, “LCP is a wonderful opportunity on campus for students to learn vital leadership skills, and I am so grateful for all of the knowledge I have gained being a member of the association.”

Staff writer Alicia Cagle contributed to this article.