Graduating students capture their Northeastern memories
It is tradition for graduating Northeastern students to commemorate the occasion by posing for photos around campus in their academic regalia.
It was 3 a.m. when Lauren Li’s parents in Hong Kong received the news that she had landed her second co-op.
Li had called home on FaceTime, excited, thousands of miles away in Boston. It was during her fourth year, and she had just secured a co-op at one of her top choices, the global consultancy firm Bain & Company.
At Northeastern, co-ops are six-month paid job placements that students complete as part of their degrees. Li had completed her first co-op at Puma, the shoe company, and had been updating her parents on her various co-op applications for her second experiential learning opportunity, even conducting a few dry run interviews with them, explained her father, Eric Li.
Despite the late – or was it early – hour, they were elated to hear that her hard work had paid off
“She woke us up with the news,” her mother, Janice Lee, said with a laugh.
That memory was front-of-mind for the family on Thursday afternoon, when Lauren Li, who was dressed in her cap and gown, was posing at Krentzman Quad on the Boston campus. The moment marked a celebratory bookend to her successful academic career at Northeastern, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and psychology.
Lauren Li and her family were among many groups taking photos in celebration this week, as it is tradition for graduating Northeastern students to commemorate the occasion by posing for photos around campus in their academic regalia.
Krentzman is among the most popular of spots, with students taking turns grabbing photos at the iconic brick Northeastern sign located along Huntington Avenue.
“I grew up in Massachusetts, so coming here was a bit nostalgic because I grew up visiting,” said Lauren Montion, moments after taking photos in front of the brick wall.
Montion graduated in December with a bachelor’s degree in data science and mathematics, and is currently pursuing her master’s degree at Northeastern in applied mathematics. She’ll walk next week in commemoration of her bachelor’s.
She said what she loved most about her Northeastern experience as an undergraduate was the opportunity to engage in coding projects with impact.
One standout was a project in her machine learning class. She created neural network models to help determine whether MRI scans of tumors were malignant or benign.
“It’s an exciting time, but it’s a little sad too because it’s a different chapter in her life,” Noreen Montion, Lauren’s mother, said. “But I’m really proud of her, and I’m really glad she went here. It’s been a great experience.”
A major highlight for Charlotte Thunen, who will be graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics, was serving as the president of Sigma Kappa, one of Northeastern’s sororities.
That’s where she met some of her closest friends and engaged in philanthropy work, she said after taking some photos in front of Dodge Hall.
One of her favorite events is Northeastern’s annual Relay for Life, the university’s rendition of the American Cancer Society’s fundraising initiative, of which Sigma Kappa is a major fundraiser.
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She already has a job lined up working as a consultant analyst at Point B, a management consulting firm based in Seattle, which is where she grew up and where much of her family lives.
What she said she’ll remember most are the breaks within her busy schedule when she was able to slow down and enjoy the company of her peers.
“Having a good time with friends is where a lot of the memories come from,” she said.
Menahi Shayan, who completed his master’s in engineering management, said his Northeastern experience has been excellent.
During his co-op working for T-Mobile in Seattle, Shayan worked on integrating AI technologies into its mobile apps, and he will continue to work for the company after he graduates.
He was also a member of a number of student organizations on campus, including the NU Mars Rover Team and NU TV, the university’s student-run television club.
He said while he’s sad that his time at Northeastern is ending, he is looking forward to what’s next.
“I’m excited for the next steps,” he said while grabbing photos in Krentzman. “It’s emotional but also very exciting.”
The bookstore was also packed for much of this week, as students picked up their caps and gowns.
Michael Kovacs,who will be graduating with a bachelor’s in civil engineering and architectural studies, was among those picking up regalia in the Curry Student Center.
Kovacs credits his co-op at Thornton Tomasetti, a global engineering firm, with helping him land a job there after graduation. His time on Northeastern University’s ballroom dance club has also been a highlight, he said. This year, he was the president of the club, which participates in competitions but also offers more casual events for beginners.
“There was a lot I got to do, and it was a lot of fun,” he said. “I learned a lot.
Christian Cavero brought along his daughters, Kehlani, 3, and Samira, 5
Cavero is graduating with his bachelor’s degree in advanced manufacturing systems. He completed the degree while working full-time as a methods planner for airplane engine parts at GE Aerospace in Lynn, Massachusetts. He felt it was important to bring his kids along to inspire them for the future.
“I want to show them it’s possible,” Cavaro said while walking in the direction of Centennial Common on the Boston campus. “Whatever their circumstances, if they put their minds to it, they’ll be able to succeed — just like I did.”
