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Northeastern honors top graduate students with launch of Laurel and Scroll 100 Society

President Joseph E. Aoun said Laurel and Scroll 100 honorees have a “Northeastern advantage” — a community with graduates all over the world.

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A member of the Northeastern community placing a red sash around a graduate student's neck.
Laurel and Scroll 100 honors outstanding graduate students for achievements aligning with the university’s mission, ideals and values. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Graduate student Kobe Miller came to Northeastern University from New Zealand to study sports leadership in 2023.

This 9,000-mile leap led him to a job in youth development at the Boston Celtics.

On Tuesday, Miller, a high-performance rower and athletes’ mental health advocate, was one of 100 graduate and professional students inducted into the inaugural Laurel and Scroll 100 Society of Distinction — a Northeastern graduate school equivalent of the university’s Huntington 100.

Laurel and Scroll 100 and Huntington 100 collectively are known as Northeastern University Societies of Distinction that honor outstanding students for achievements aligning with the university’s mission, ideals, values and academic plan.

“It’s a real honor to be able to leave my mark here at Northeastern,” Miller said. “It is amazing to be recognized among some really talented and hard-working people in all different fields, especially as an international student.”

President Joseph E. Aoun, a steadfast supporter of the creation of the Laurel and Scroll 100, congratulated the inductees, saying that being nominated for this fellowship meant they have made an impact on their professors, friends and colleagues.

“This is very meaningful,” Aoun said. 

President Aoun holding a microphone at the Laurel & Scroll Induction Ceremony.
04/15/25 – BOSTON, MA. – Scenes during the Laurel & Scroll Induction Ceremony held on East Village 17th floor event space on April 15, 2025. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University
Rows of Northeastern branded pins laid out.
04/15/25 – BOSTON, MA. – Scenes during the Laurel & Scroll Induction Ceremony held on East Village 17th floor event space on April 15, 2025. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University
President Aoun standing in front of a group of students at the Laurel & Scroll Induction Ceremony.
04/15/25 – BOSTON, MA. – Scenes during the Laurel & Scroll Induction Ceremony held on East Village 17th floor event space on April 15, 2025. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University
A group of students posing with President Aoun at the Laurel & Scroll Induction Ceremony.
04/15/25 – BOSTON, MA. – Scenes during the Laurel & Scroll Induction Ceremony held on East Village 17th floor event space on April 15, 2025. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University
Four students listening intently at the Laurel & Scroll Induction Ceremony.
04/15/25 – BOSTON, MA. – Scenes during the Laurel & Scroll Induction Ceremony held on East Village 17th floor event space on April 15, 2025. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University
President Joseph E. Aoun encouraged soon-to-be graduates to be Northeastern ambassadors and continue engaging with the university. Photos by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

In today’s world, where artificial intelligence is changing societies and global relationships, he said, members of the Laurel and Scroll 100 may have to reinvent themselves.

“Reinvention is not easy,” Aoun said. “But, in fact, you have been prepared for that here, because when you do experiential education, when you do a co-op, when you discover a new field, you are repositioning yourselves.”

But Laurel and Scroll 100 honorees, Aoun said, have a “Northeastern advantage” — a community with graduates all over the world.

The president encouraged soon-to-be graduates to be Northeastern ambassadors, continue engaging with the university, and give back through mentorships or by starting new ventures or initiatives.

“It is our hope that Laurel and Scroll 100 will make a lasting impact on Northeastern University and the world through individuals who have made it their mission to uphold the university’s principles,” said Lori Jacques, associate vice president of alumni relations and annual giving.

The induction event at East Village on the Boston campus included a candle-lighting ceremony, signing of the Laurel and Scroll 100 membership roll and taking a pledge. The inductees received an official membership pin, a certificate and a stole.

Jojo Jacobson, one of this year’s Laurel and Scroll 100 inductees, has completed her doctorate in higher education administration and recently published her dissertation on AI-augmented asynchronous tutoring.

“This has been a really great program for me,” said Jacobson, who is employed as a director of academic support and accessibility services. “Northeastern did an amazing job of supporting me as a working professional as I got my doctorate, which is really helping me in my career.”

A student smiling for a photo at the Laurel & Scroll Induction Ceremony.
04/15/25 – BOSTON, MA. – Scenes during the Laurel & Scroll Induction Ceremony held on East Village 17th floor event space on April 15, 2025. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University
A student posing for a photo at the Laurel & Scroll Induction Ceremony.
04/15/25 – BOSTON, MA. – Scenes during the Laurel & Scroll Induction Ceremony held on East Village 17th floor event space on April 15, 2025. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University
A member of the Northeastern Community signing a piece of paper at the Laurel & Scroll Induction Ceremony.
04/15/25 – BOSTON, MA. – Scenes during the Laurel & Scroll Induction Ceremony held on East Village 17th floor event space on April 15, 2025. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University
Two graduate students lighting candles at the Laurel & Scroll Induction Ceremony.
04/15/25 – BOSTON, MA. – Scenes during the Laurel & Scroll Induction Ceremony held on East Village 17th floor event space on April 15, 2025. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University
Students sitting at a long table for a meal at the Laurel & Scroll Induction Ceremony.
04/15/25 – BOSTON, MA. – Scenes during the Laurel & Scroll Induction Ceremony held on East Village 17th floor event space on April 15, 2025. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University
The induction event at East Village on the Boston campus included a candle-lighting ceremony, signing of the Laurel and Scroll 100 membership roll and taking a pledge. Photos by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Jacobson started her doctoral studies before the advent of AI and shifted the focus of her research with the launch of ChatGPT. She said the students that she supports at her job have already benefited from the research she has done at Northeastern.

“It’s been a wonderful way to continue my professional career and deepen my understanding of a new and very innovative and relevant field in ways that support human beings and support higher education,” she said.

Four long tables placed next to each other with students wearing black sitting at them for the Laurel & Scroll Induction Ceremony.
Laurel and Scroll 100 inductees during a ceremony and lunch at East Village on the Boston campus on April 15, 2025. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Inductee Utkaosha Shirke came to Northeastern from India to explore new technologies after working in IT consulting for five years. She is completing a master’s program in information systems.

After she saw students being inducted last year, Shirke made it her goal to become a part of the Laurel and Scroll 100 this year.

She worked as a teaching assistant for two data science classes, conducted research on generative AI and completed a co-op as a data analyst at Dimensional Insight, an analytical enterprise platform.

“Northeastern really helped me a lot to get equipped with the tools and technologies which are really hot on the market right now,” she said. “I would say this really helped me a lot to grow in my career.”

Miller has been enjoying working with youths, finding their energy uplifting. However, he will soon have a choice to make — to continue developing professionally in the U.S. or go back to New Zealand and try out for the 2028 Olympic team. 

“That’s what I’m still trying to decide at the moment,” he said. “But the main focus right now is with the Northeastern rowing team here, as we are still training and competing until the end of the season in June.” 

2025 Laurel and Scroll 100 inductees:

Arlington

Boston

London

Oakland

Portland

Seattle

Silicon Valley

Toronto

Vancouver

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