Northeastern University student Liza Sheehy recently accompanied a professor to a conference in Paris to present the Jewish Migration Project, a crowd-sourced public digital archive cataloging and mapping objects related to Jewish migration.
Sheehy, a fourth-year student who is co-leading research and design for the grant-funded project, described it as the quintessential Northeastern experience.
“It really speaks to the value of the university and its commitment to student excellence and professors’ support for students that they trust us to represent Northeastern in such a professional environment,” Sheehy said. “It shows that the university supports student research and wants them to excel, and that professors support and encourage their students’ efforts.”
On Tuesday, Sheehy was one of a select group of undergraduates who enjoyed another notable Northeastern experience: induction into the Huntington 100, which honors students whose achievements exemplify the university’s mission.
“You have been chosen because of your enormous impact on the community at large — your fellow students, your faculty and staff who took care of you and nominated you — and also for what you have done outside of Northeastern in your co-ops, in your work with the communities,” President Joseph E. Aoun told inductees during a ceremony on the Boston campus. “You lifted up the whole student body.”
The Huntington 100 honors undergraduate students across the global network who will enter their final year of study in the fall semester. Huntington 100 and Laurel and Scroll 100, for graduate students, are collectively known as Northeastern University Societies of Distinction.
“The talent in this group is absolutely absurd, and the stories behind your successes are fascinating,” said Victoria Horard, an emcee of the induction ceremony and fall Huntington 100 inductee. “You have traveled far and wide, traversing the globe to study abroad, immerse yourselves in global co-ops, and discover your passions.”
Indeed, the inductees Tuesday included Husky ambassadors, Ujima scholars, orientation leaders, resident assistants, peer tutors, presidential scholars, presidents and executive directors of campus organizations from across the global network.
And that was just this semester’s cohort.
“Remember who you are, and be proud of what you do, and congrats,” said keynote speaker Juan Gallego, a 2019 Huntington 100 inductee and associate deputy chief of staff to Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll.
Tomia “Mia” Patterson traveled from Northeastern’s Oakland campus to be inducted into the society. A student studying history, culture and law, Patterson listed Dialogues of Civilization at the United Nations, in Israel and in Geneva as notable experiences during her education.
“I’m grateful and excited,” Patterson said.
Jason Stewart, meanwhile, cited his work mentoring local youth with Dream, as “one of the best parts” of his Northeastern experience.
“Having a chance to be there for local youth and help be a mentor to them was a big experience that shaped me to be who I am now,” Stewart said.
He said the Huntington 100 honor made him feel “like I accomplished something,” and that he “made a mark on the university in some good way.”
Inductee Nik Kojoian, an industrial engineering major, said he appreciated being part of a cohort that represented the breadth of Northeastern’s community.
“It’s people who worked hard and participated in Northeastern in different ways,” said Kojoian, a member of the engineering honors society Tau Beta Pi and the Huntington Strategy Group student consultancy. “It’s nice to work hard and be recognized.”
Inductee Colin McAndrew, a political science major, and Kojoian’s fraternity brother at Kappa Sigma, agreed.
“I always worked hard at school, and I’m glad to see it paid off,” McAndrew said.
Finally, business administration student Anushka Nair said she was inspired by her induction to help the next generation of leaders — just as she had been helped by female leaders during a recent Global Leadership Summit in Miami.
“One day it’s going to be me giving that advice,” Nair said. “I wouldn’t have gotten that opportunity without Northeastern.”