By Zack Sampson, News Staff

Northeastern is replacing its 100 Most Influential Seniors program with a new award initiative intended to honor both juniors and seniors, the university announced this month.

The Huntington 100: Distinguished Juniors & Seniors Program aims to not only award students, but to also create a group of people who can support and promote the university, Emily Hardman, the university’s director of student programming and communications, said. Students chosen for the program may work on admissions or alumni events, or on mentoring younger members of the Northeastern community, Hardman said in phone interview Wednesday.

Juniors chosen to be a part of The Huntington 100 will not need to be renominated their senior year, she said. They will remain a part of the group.

Like The 100 Most Influential Seniors, The Huntington 100 will be rewarded with a dinner at the President’s house, a brownstone on Beacon Street near the Massachusetts State House.

Members of The Huntington 100 will also receive a stole to wear at commencement, Hardman said. The program is being supervised by the Office of Student Affairs, which also oversaw the influential seniors program for the last six years.

There are a number of criteria that candidates for the group may meet, but Hardman said the university hopes to find 100 students with a broad range of experiences.

“We see so many very well-rounded students and those are the ones who sort of really fit this description,” she said.

The criteria students will be judged on for selection to the Huntington 100 were outlined in a university email to the student body:

• Excellent academic and judicial standing
• An exemplary record of service
• Academic success: a transcript that reflects outstanding academic performance
• Global experience, in the form of international co-op, study abroad or other experiential learning beyond the United States
• Demonstrated leadership in campus involvement
• Commitment to a high level of ideals and ability to positively represent the values of Northeastern
• Demonstrated entrepreneurial or innovative spirit
• Graduating senior or junior year status

But Hardman said this is not a checklist, and students will not be disregarded if they have never studied abroad or served as an executive in a student group. She said the range of criteria is wider than it was for the influential seniors.

Nominations for The Huntington 100 are due by April 5. Students, as well as faculty, staff, or coaches, can nominate people for the list by using a designated form, which Hardman said is intended to add consistency to the nomination process. The form can be found at: https://fs19.formsite.com/neuemsa/vpsa100nom/secure_index.html.

Hardman said a group of 10 people, including professors, student affairs officers and heads of academic departments, will select students for the final group.