Compass Awards Program
The Compass Awards Program, our signature student awards program, recognizes exemplary students from the senior class who, during their time on campus, have demonstrated a true dedication to a core set of values: leadership, volunteerism, academic integrity, and commitment to Northeastern. Students who display strength in these values demonstrate to us that they are on a path to alumni leadership.
Each year, nine Compass Awards are presented. The eight undergraduate colleges are represented as well as one award representing the Alumni Relations. As part of the Compass Awards program, two additional honors are made.
The Wendy Breen Kline Award, established in 1997 and named in honor of the late Wendy Breen Kline, BB’84, PAH’88, is presented to one undergraduate senior who embodies both leadership and volunteer spirit.
The Garnet Award recognizes one junior or third-year undergraduate student who has demonstrated the same core values as the Compass Award recipients, making an impact in our community while showing promise for even greater success at Northeastern in the future. The Garnet Award debuted in 2014.
This program evolved from the Professional Promise Awards, a past model that was successfully established and implemented by the Alumni Association Board for several years.
Photos from the 2023 Award Ceremony and Reception
Watch the 2023 awards ceremony here
2023 Awardees
Kristine Aleksandrovic a,
DMSB’23
COMPASS
Kristine Aleksandrovica wants to see a more sustainable world. Set to receive her B.S. in business administration and economics in May…
Jake Okrent,
AMD’23
COMPASS
Don’t be surprised if in the not-too-distant future, the name “Jake Okrent” becomes synonymous with urban design. A senior, Jake has…
Maria Rengifo ,
BHS’23
COMPASS
A champion of the underserved, Maria Rengifo has worked tirelessly for Boston, Northeastern, and an indigenous community in Ecuador. She…
Ren Birnholz ,
AMD’23
KLINE
Ren Birnholz, who holds a 3.99 GPA and is in the Honors program, has a long list of accomplishments while they have been at Northeastern…
Joseph Blanchet,
E’23
COMPASS
“Not one to shy away from a challenge, Joseph Blanchet has thoughtfully addressed and successfully accomplished everything presented…”
Kathryn Oliver ,
SSH’23
COMPASS
The world is Katie Oliver’s oyster, and she is the pearl. Katie, a cultural anthropology major with a 3.6 GPA, has consistently shown leadership…
John Ruggieri-Lam ,
CPS’23
COMPASS
John Ruggieri-Lam is already a professional, entering his 20th year as a principal dancer with the Boston Ballet. He is a filmmaker, choreographer…
Donovan Holt ,
AMD’24
GARNET
Donovan Holt would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He did that—literally—one night when an actor had become sick during a rehearsal of…
Shandy Ndjigue,
E’23
COMPASS
A first-generation Cameroonian-American and honors student, Shandy Ndjigue, has made an indelible mark on Northeastern University. She is set…
Nicole Page ,
S’23
COMPASS
Nicole Page shows it all—leadership, volunteerism, academic integrity, and commitment to Northeastern. Additionally…
Meera Whitson,
Khoury’23
COMPASS
Meera Whitson, who has a 3.97 GPA and is in the Honors program, is fascinated by the intersection of computer science and linguistics —her two major areas…
Awardee Listing
Lynn Fraser, UC’02, SPCS’07, MS’08
Jessie Goldbas, AS’07 (Alumni Relations)
Tera Mae Hagen-Collins, DMSB’08
Christopher Lambert, Khoury’07
Sergio Marrero, E’07
Matthieu Newton, BHS’07, DPT’08
Rogan O’Handley, CJ’07
Joelle Torregrossa, AS’07, MS’07
Corey Ashby, E’08
Tanya Cashorali, Khoury’08
Elizabeth Cilia, SSH’08
Richard Desmond, UC’03, SPCS’08
Julia Doty, AS’08
Christopher Marshall, BHS’08, MSL’11 (Alumni Relations)
Amanda O’Brien, DMSB’08
Jessica Pepin, BHS’08
Matthew Eaton, DMSB’09
Kathleen Gillis, AS’09
Matthew Horan, Khoury’09
Jason Horton, DMSB’09 (Alumni Relations)
Megan LoVullo Koster, BHS’09
Ethan Phillip LaRochelle, E’09
Arnold Phillips, CPS’09
Liza Sabine-Mathosian, AS’09
Sarah Barone, AS’10 (Alumni Relations)
Jeffrey Cumplido, AS’10
Rachel Correia, CJ’10
Colleen Gerrity, BHS’10
Brian Lepley, DMSB’10
Lindsey Mathews, E’10
John Mendelewski, Khoury’10
Isaiah Silva, CPS’08,’10
Kay Beach, SSH’11
Samantha Sokup Ippoliti, S’11, MS’12
Martha Lefferts, BHS’11
Kenneth McGrady, Khoury’11
Jennifer Mitchell, E’11
Brian Nelson, E’11 (Alumni Relations)
Maxine Roca, AMD’11
Kadeen Tyndale, CPS’10,’11, MS’17
Rani Pimentel Wise, DMSB’11
Darren Costa, SSH’12 (Alumni Relations)
Matthew Howansky, KCIS’12
Meaghan Hitt, BHS’12, DPT’13
Samuel Landsberg, DMSB’12
Kimberly Masi, E’12
Christina McMahon, CPS’12
Evan O’Toole, AMD’12
Alison Robey, S’12
Abby Wagner, SSH’12
Alaa Alhomaizi, S’13
Dalal Alhomaizi, S’13
Jenna Battle, CPS’13
Andrew Childs, E’13, MS’13
Sarah Leahy, AMD’13 (Alumni Relations)
Andrea Magri, BHS’13
Frank Marino, SSH’13
Michael May, Khoury’13
Gail Waterhouse, AMD’13, MA’17
Christopher Wolfel, DMSB’13
Nathaniel Bessa, Khoury’14
Kristen Coletti, E’14
Caitlin Courtade, BHS’14, DPT’15
Melissa Dunbar, S’14 (Alumni Relations)
Siena Falino, AMD’14
Jennifer Griffith, S’14
Sadaf Shekarkhand, DMSB’14
Lionel Shiwala, CPS’14
William Pett, SH’14, MPA’15
Melanie Arenson, S’15
Matias Campos, BHS’15, PharmD’16
Noah Carville, SSH’16
Courtney Cowell, S’15 (Alumni Relations)
Rose DeMaio, Khoury’15
Zolan Kanno-Youngs, AMD’15
Kyle Koleoglou, CPS’15
Mitzi Madrid-Diaz, DMSB’15
Ashley Tokarz, E’15, MBA’17
Jaime E. Conway, S’16
Sarah E. DiCioccio, SSH’16 (Alumni Relations)
Caleb J. Donnelly, E’16
Elise LeCrone, SSH’16
Rene Mandeville, CPS’16
Nicholas R. Martin, BHS’16
Madelyn M. Stone, AMD’16
Jeffrey A. Wallace, Khoury’16
Katie N. Wong, DMSB’16
Alison N. Campbell, SSH’17
Katherine T. Cokorinos, AMD’17
Ryan D. Daley, CPS’17
Korrinne J. Ivey, BHS’17 (Alumni Relations)
Kayla F. Joyal, BHS’17, PharmD’18
Kelli A. Lynch, E’17
Erika C. Nothnagel, DMSB’17, MS’17
Emma M. Parrish, S’17
Shivanjali Singh, Khoury’17
Corinne C. Bowers, E’18
Timothy M. Foley, AMD’18
Elliot A. Horen, Khoury’18
Kathryn E. Larkin, S’18
Diana J. Ojeda, CPS’18
Suchira Sharma, DMSB’18 (Alumni Relations)
Taylor N. Straatmann, SSH’18
Tejas S. Vora, DMSB’18
Brandon D. Yip, BHS’18
Alya Abourezk, AMD’19
Maura Eaton, BSH’19
Maria Franko, E’19, MS’19
Katherine Hayes, DMSB’19
Daniel Lim, DMSB’19 (Alumni Relations)
Vishal Makhijani, SSH’19
Jessica Merritt, Khoury’19
Jameson O’Reilly, S’19
Olga Tiatina, CPS’19
Marley Arborico, Khoury’20
Alex Bender, E’20 (Alumni Relations)
Tara Boyle, DMSB’20
Carlos Garcia, CPS’20
Casey Greenleaf, SSH’20
Jamie McGloin, BHS’20
Katelyn Ripley, E’20
Hana Shaprio, S’20
Tia Thomson, AMD’20
Felicia Zhang, Khoury’21
Kristen Pontin, DMSB’21 (Alumni Relations)
Miranda Nimmer, DMSB’21
Youssef El Yamani, CPS’21
Anneke Gustafson, SSH’21
Jordan Goodman, BHS’21
Louiza Wise, E’21
Jingwen Ren, S’21
Ben Silvers, AMD’21
Taranehv Tabib-Azar, AMD’22
Anisa Amiji, BHS’22
Jack McKim, DMSB’22
Carrie Tam, E’22
Fiona McCrae, Khoury’22
Lauren Herfindahl, CPS’22
Nicole Occidental, S’22
Yachi Christie Lee, SSH, S’22
Sarrah (Manisha) Asokumar, DMSB’22
2007: Erika Sanchez, SSH’07
2008: Caitlin C. Bowring, AS’08, MA’08
2009: Julie Miller, AS’09
2010: Rachel Sherman, AS’10
2011: Lindsay Tremblay, SSH’11
2012: Carolina Prieto, AMD’12
2013: Elise Funke, S’13
2014: Heather Viola, SSH’14
2015: Kayla Hazel, BHS’16, DPT’17
2016: Nicholas P. Polanchik, S’16
2017: Miranda S. Beggin, DMSB’17
2018: Payton A. Schenck, SSH’18, MS’19
2019: Rebecca Green, SSH’18
2020: Zipporah Osei, Khoury’20
2021: Lily Harris, BHS’21
2022: Khailah Griffin, DMSB’22
2014: Nicole Bourque, BHS’15, MS’17
2015: Dan Calacci, Khoury’16
2016: Thurston E. Brevett, E’18
2017: Gabrielle M. St.Jarre, BHS’18
2018: John J. Lovett III, SSH’19
2019: Stephen Alt, Khoury’21
2020: Gabriel García, SSH’21
2021: Ari P. Zlota, S’23
2022: Timothy Van Bloem, AMD’23