For this nursing school graduate, being a Husky runs in the family
A Northeastern degree is thrice as nice in this family
For new Northeastern University nursing school graduate Bradley Peterson, being a Husky is a family affair.
In 1963, his grandfather, Russell Peterson, graduated with an engineering degree and later earned an MBA from Northeastern.
In 1989, Bradley’s aunt, Diane Gore, and her husband, Charles Gore, also graduated from Northeastern with civil engineering degrees.
And like his aunt and uncle before him, Bradley accepted a job offer from a co-op he worked at during his studies, in this case, Boston Medical Center. Co-ops, Bradley said, are “invaluable.”
“The job market is kind of dicey at the moment. I have so many friends who are struggling to find jobs,” he said of friends who attended other universities. Going through the co-op program at Northeastern really helps “to get your foot in the door” with potential employers, Bradley said.
What appealed most to him about Northeastern, Bradley said, were the same things that attracted his relatives to the university — the strong STEM program and co-op opportunities.
The co-ops were also a selling point for Diane and Charles Gore, who met at Northeastern and have been married for almost 40 years.
“Charlie and I both got our jobs from co-ops,” said Diane, who lives in Arlington and works as a property manager. “Everybody raves about Northeastern and the co-ops,” including the employers who work with them, she said.
“I was able to have a job offer in February before I graduated in June,” said Charles Gore, who went on to receive a masters degree in environmental engineering from Northeastern, most of which was paid for by an engineering company tuition reimbursement program.
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When Diane and Charles received their undergraduate degrees, the ceremony took place in what was known as Boston Garden and the now late actor Ed Asner was the speaker.
Diane remembers it as a more “somber” affair than April’s Fenway Park commencement ceremony, where she was wowed by the student dancers and singers and graduation speaker Hilary Duff’s motivational advice.
“It was quite inspiring and really fun,” said Diane, who added that opportunities to join clubs and organizations have expanded greatly at Northeastern since she was a student, especially for women. During her time at Northeastern, Diane said she studied karate.
Bradley’s grandfather, Russell, who is Diane’s father, joined Bradley at Fenway in his own cap and gown to mark his status as a “Golden Grad” of Northeastern more than 50 years ago.
After a career in engineering, Russell invested in real estate and became so successful that real estate became his full-time job. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he retired, Diane said.
Days after posing in his cap and gown with the Gores and Russell in the Dell Technologies Suite set aside at Fenway for Golden Grads, Bradley said that “It was really nice to celebrate the fact that my grandfather and aunt and uncle also graduated from Northeastern’s Boston campus,” adding, “It certainly speaks to our family” and the legacy of Northeastern.”
Diane said that she and her husband have followed her father’s example and supported their alma mater over the years, adding that she hopes Bradley does the same.
“It’s important to look back and (see) that your alma mater is just as strong and even better than when you graduated,” she said. “There are so many colleges that have closed and are no longer in existence. It’s just wonderful to have the reputation of a strong university behind your diploma.”
Bradley, who played club lacrosse at Northeastern, said he’s excited to see what’s next for Northeastern.
“It seems like it’s only going to grow and get better,” he said.
