This award is named after Brother Charles O. Blaisdell, Pi-Dartmouth '37. It is awarded each June to the undergraduate who is judged the most highly accomplished Deke in that academic year on the basis of contribution to his chapter, contribution to his College or University, his standing in extracurricular activities and organizations on or off-campus, and his scholastic achievement. The Blaisdell Leadership Award is the highest honor bestowed by DKE upon an individual undergraduate member. 

Charlie Blaisdell was one of the most consequential Dekes in the Fraternity's history. He served ∆KE in many ways and held every major office within ∆KE. He was President of the Fraternity in the early 1970s, which was one of the most difficult eras ever faced by fraternities. He was President of the DKE Club of New York and continued to serve on that Board until his passing in 2018 at age 102.  His career with the FBI, and then in the legal profession, was filled with accomplishments and successes, and he practiced law until the age of 100. Charlie was a mainstay at virtually every Deke event, especially in New York, and his spirit and enthusiasm for ∆KE are legendary. Every Deke who attended those events looked forward to Charlie's rousing cheer at the end of a Lion March. In every respect, Charlie was an inspirational leader to Dekes for many decades. Naming this Leadership Award after Charlie Blaisdell assures that the recipient will always be linked in name with one of the greatest leaders ever produced by Delta Kappa Epsilon.