Awards, Grants, and Recognitions
City and Community Engagement offers grants and awards throughout the year to campus and community organizations to support collaborations, partnerships, and leadership. We celebrate the honorees as well as other colleagues and partners who have earned important recognition for their work.
Grants
Community Grant
Community Grants are available to local community organizations, nonprofits, or schools that engage or partner with Northeastern students, faculty, and/or staff in select in CCE programs. The goal is to fund programs and events that benefit our neighborhoods and build a strong relationship between Northeastern and the surrounding community.
To be eligible to apply for this grant, you must be a Boston-area based community organization, nonprofit, or school that has engaged with Northeastern University students, staff, or faculty in one of these CCE programs over the past five years: service-learning courses, NU|ACES, Community Volunteers Program, Northeastern Service Day, or Jumpstart.
Contact: communityservice@northeastern.edu
2022 honorees
- Mosaic: Interfaith Youth Action
- Apprentice Learning
- Bryce’s Journey, Inc.
- Boston Debate League
- BalletRox
- Mission Hill Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc.
- Mujeres Unidas Avanzando (MUA)
- Youth Enrichment Services (YES)
- NECAT (New England Culinary Arts Training)
- The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum
- Boston Building Resources – Reuse Center
- Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción
- National Braille Press
- Hyde Square Task Force
- Friends of the Rafael Hernández School
- The Fenway Alliance
- The St. Ambrose Family Shelter
- The Wang Center for the Performing Arts, Inc.
- Boston Housing Authority
- All Dorchester Sports and Leadership
2021 honorees
- BalletRox
- National Braille Press
- Bryce’s Journey, Inc.
- St. Ambrose Family Shelter
- Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción
- Boston Self Help Center Inc.
- Friends of the Hernandez Inc.
- Ellis Memorial and Eldredge House, Inc.
- sySTEMic flow, LLC
- Hyde Square Task Force
- Learn 2 Teach, Teach 2 Learn
- SHERRILL HOUSE
- Boston Housing Authority
- Charlestown High School
- Youth Enrichment Services (YES)
- United South End Settlements
- CitySprouts
- Women’s Lunch Place
- Fenway Civic Association
- United Neighbors of Lower Roxbury Community Garden
- Mission Hill Health Movement (MHHM)
2020 honorees
- 826 Boston
- Apprentice Learning
- Artists for Humanity
- Boston Housing Authority
- Boston Partners in Education
- Bryce’s Journey
- Catholic Charities – St. Ambrose Family Shelter
- Community Servings
- Cradles to Crayons
- Friends of the Hernandez
- Huntington YMCA
- Hyde Square Task Force
- Let’s Get Ready
- Madison Park Community Development Corporation
- Mujeres Unidas Avanzando
- National Braille Press
- Round Table
- Sherrill House
- St. Stephen’s Youth Programs
2019 honorees
- Little Brothers/Friends of the Elderly
- X-Cel Education
- Boston Self Help Center/Boston Brakers
- United South End Settlements
- Friends of the Rafael Hernández School, Inc.
- Let’s Get Ready
- Emmanuel Gospel Center
- Freedom House
- Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center, Inc.
- Castle Square Tenants Organization
- Catholic Charities
Awards
Neighbors Uplifting Neighbors Award
Now in its third year, the Neighbors Award is intended to financially support active resident-led initiatives in our local neighborhoods.
2022 honorees
- Senior Food Distribution – Hawthorne Youth and Community Center
- Mass Ave Coalition
- ZNT Arts
- Orchard Gardens Resident Association (formerly known as The Orchard Park Tenants Association)
- Community Stewards and Friends of Malcolm X Park
- Fenway Cares
- Ed Cooper Community Garden & Education Center, Inc.
- Hyde Park Food Pop Up
- Fenway Parent Group
- Roslindale Food Collective
2021 honorees
- Reclaim Roxbury
- Zahirah Nur Truth of ZNT Arts
- Hernandez Mutual Aid
- Turn In. Reach Out.
- Senior Food Delivery/Hawthorne Youth and Community Center
- Friends of Melnea Cass Boulevard
- Friends Of Gertrude Howes Park (FGH)
- The Honoring Henry Hampton Committee
Community Engagement Award
This award recognizes exceptional partnerships involving students, neighborhood organizations, and/or residents, faculty, and staff from the campus and community. It honors individuals or groups that are committed to creating reciprocal partnerships that are mutually respectful, socially and ethically responsive, strategic, and purposeful.
To nominate a partnership that includes any of the groups listed above, explain in the nomination form (1) how the partnership has enhanced the campus or community, (2) how the partnership is representative of any or all of the following: commitment to creating a reciprocal relationship that is mutually respectful, socially and ethically responsive, strategic, and/or purposeful, and (3) how the partnership has focused on working toward creating a just, equitable, and sustainable future. Nominations are reviewed by a committee of Northeastern students and staff members.
Community Engagement Awards were paused for 2020.
2019 honorees
- Andrew Horowitz, Northeastern student
- BalletRox, Northeastern community partner
- Robert Kordenbrock, Northeastern community partner
- Haley House, Northeastern community partner
- Engineers Without Borders, Northeastern student group
- Northeastern Marine Science Center Outreach Department
- Lucy Bunning, Assistant Teaching Professor, Northeastern College of Professional Studies
- Maria Isabel Morel, Northeastern student
2018 honorees
- Cecilia Akuffo, Northeastern staff member
- Northeastern University Graduate Students of Color Collective, Northeastern student group
- Brent Henry, community resident
- Circle K, Northeastern student group
- Jonathan Kong, Northeastern student
- Afro Flow Yoga, community partner
2017 honorees
- Paola Canino Zayas, Northeastern student
- Girls Inc. of Lynn, community partner
- PT5161 Psychosocial Aspects of Healthcare Seminar, Northeastern Course
- BAMs Fest, Community Partner
- Elaine Hall-Corbin, Community Resident
- Community Servings, Community Partner
Community Service Leadership Award
This award recognizes Northeastern graduating seniors who have made lasting contributions to the Office of City and Community Engagement, university campus, and local communities over multiple years. The 2020 award recipients were recognized at the virtual Student Life Awards in April in partnership with the Center for Student Involvement.
Nominations are collected by CCE staff and community partner organizations where students have served.
Contact: communityservice@northeastern.edu
2021 honorees
- Yasser Aponte
- Athena Barrett
- Julia Borgida
- Helena Dworak
- Michael Fialkoff
- Sara Flynn
- Ava Gallo
- Wanjiku (Shiko) Githere
- Umin Jalloh
- Megha Koul
- Adriell Louis
- Maria Isabel Morel
- Gisselle Rodriguez Benitez
- Sasha Shenk
- Francheska Liz Torres
- Mary Tresvalles
- Sierra Vansuch
- Sarah Whiteman
2020 honorees
- Abigail Cahill, Jumpstart
- Alec Newell, Boston Scores
- Amanda Tompkins, Community-Engaged Teaching and Research
- Asta MacKie, Community-Engaged Teaching and Research
- Ben Sanders, Community-Engaged Teaching and Research
- Daniel Ostberg, SquashBusters
- Dante Del Priore, Community-Engaged Teaching and Research
- Elisa Figueras, Alternative Spring Break
- Erykah Gomes, Community-Engaged Teaching and Research
- Grace Tanguilig, BCYF – Family Gym
- Jacqueline Addona, NU|ACES
- Jamie McGloin, NU|ACES
- Jean Paul Torre, The DREAM Program
- Jillian Connolly, Alternative Spring Break
- Kevin Hassenfratz, 826 Boston
- Lauren Silva, Community-Engaged Teaching and Research
- Madeleine Hahn-Smith, NU|ACES
- Makaila Cerrone, NU|ACES
- Michael Tormey, Alternative Spring Break
- Nancy Ho, Community-Engaged Teaching and Research
- Rodford Ripert, Orchard Gardens Boys & Girls Club
- Tyler Nicholson, Community-Engaged Teaching and Research
- Zoe Karavolis, Alternative Spring Break
2019 honorees
- Adrian Forrest, NU|ACES and Civic Engagement Program
- Chelsea Lauder, Service-Learning Program
- Christopher Scianna, Timothy Smith Network and Citizen Schools
- Colin Maher, The DREAM Program
- Craig Parker, Jumpstart
- Emily Breen, Service-Learning Program
- Karnee Berejiklian, Massachusetts Promise Fellowship
- Katie LaScaleia, Massachusetts Promise Fellowship
- Kelsie O’Flanagan, Service-Learning Program
- Marija Inesa Luneckaite, Sherrill House
- Marisa Thomassie, NU|ACES and Civic Engagement Program
- Michele Kinama, Jumpstart
- Naomi Mayman, NU|ACES and Civic Engagement Program
- Rebecca Bagley, St. Francis House
- Ruthanne Bandy, Service-Learning Program
- Shelby Fundin, Alternative Spring Break
- Victoria Barranco, NU|ACES and Civic Engagement Program
2018 honorees
- Camila Aponte
- Amy Bui
- Nolan Currie
- Tavish Fenbert
- Hannah Lee Flath
- Harumi Harakawa
- Caroline Hwang
- Laura Krause
- Cassandra Moreno
- Kristen Lobo
- Tashila Pierre-Peter
- Michelle Reichman
- Sara Rodas
- Alexis Stefano
- Marissa Watkins
2017 honorees
- Liza Ashley
- Chelsea Elder
- Katie Elliot
- Caroline Fried
- Suzie Kim
2016 honorees
- Chrissy Beluk
- Dan McKenna
- Amy Stahl
2015 honorees
- Brooke Hoger
- Hannah Kilfoye
- Kayla Scholl
- Jessica VandenBoom
2014 honorees
- Kathleen Collins
- Sydney Palinkas
2013 honorees
- Michelle Adler
- Eileen Rice
2011 honorees
- Kayla Cormier
- Jennifer Glynn
- Bianca Smith
2010 honorees
- Cindy Gonzalez
- Kaitlin Ostrander
2009 honorees
- Michael Grant
- Brittany Manley
- Caitlin McDermott
- Julie Miller
2008 honorees
- Emma Bloomfield
- Lindsey Kaminski
- Amanda Parker
- Peter Sauro
- Alicia Skibinski
2007 honorees
- Alex Alvanos
- Caitlyn Keckeissen
- Christina Lavorna
- Chelsey Mitchell
2006 honorees
- Danielle Eustice
- Sara Kearns
- Lisa Paquette
- Rachel White
Service-Learning Course-Community Collaboration Award
This award celebrates excellence in the Service-Learning Program at Northeastern. It honors individuals or groups who went above and beyond their prescribed roles to contribute to a meaningful partnership that benefits the community while enhancing student learning and/or faculty scholarship.
Each year, the Service-Learning Program asks our network to nominate any collaboration of students, faculty, or community partners for this award. The award was paused in 2019–2020 while we reimagine how to celebrate and honor exceptional partnerships.
Contact: service-learning@northeastern.edu
2018 – 2019 honorees
- Mary Steffel, Assistant Professor of Marketing
- Jess Lynch-Foust, Service-Learning Teaching Assistant
- Jennifer Licht and Angela Phinney, Bikes Not Bombs
2017 – 2018 honorees
- Nicole Aljoe, Associate Professor of English and African American Studies
- Amanda Tompkins, Service-Learning Teaching Assistant
- Sue Freeman, Teaching Professor of Engineering
- Adreenne Law, Timothy Smith Network
2016 – 2017 honorees
- Danielle Dottor, Northeastern student
- Nominated by Rachel Kirk, Hyde Square Task Force
2015 – 2016 honorees
- Software Development Team – students Jack Burns, Stefan Cepko, Brian Cox, Zach Gawlick, Xiangyu Li, Joseph Maxwell, Tevin Otiento, Anu Singh
- Nominated by Sheyla Carew, Boston Housing Authority’s Volunteer Interpreter Program
2014 – 2015 honorees
- Macey Miller, Northeastern student
- Nominated by Valerie Maio and Carol Knox, BalletRox
2013 – 2014 honorees
- Helen Schroeder, United South End Settlements
- Nominated by Katie Elliot and Anna Berkowitz, Northeastern students, and Emily Mann, Northeastern faculty member
2012 – 2013 honorees
- Mark Robertson, Yawkey Boys & Girls Club of Roxbury
- Nominated by Gail Begley, Northeastern faculty member
The Red Wagon Award
This recognizes an individual who embodies the mission of the Massachusetts Promise Fellowship and supports the development of emerging leaders.
Anyone in the MPF network can nominate an individual.
As a result of COVID-19, Pass the Wagon was canceled for 2019 through 2022. However, the program is slated to continue in 2023.
Contact: masspromisefellows@northeastern.edu
Previous Honorees
- 2019: Shiona DeCarvalho, MPF Fellow Supervisor at Youth Enrichment Services
- 2018: Amanda Trask, MPF Fellow Supervisor at Old Colony YMCA of Brockton
- 2017: Liz Steinhauser
- 2016: Daisy Ortega
- 2015: Eli Pimentel
- 2014: Linda Balzotti
- 2013: Kori Redepenning
- 2012: Nancy Luc
- 2011: Angela Caggianelli
Suit Awards
The Suit Awards recognize students in NU|ACES who have demonstrated exceptional service. Like the suits of a card deck, there are four types of Suit Awards. The highest honor is the Ace of Spades: Global Citizen Award, which is reserved for students who have dedicated time throughout their college careers to becoming more engaged citizens and community members.
The criteria for each Suit Award can be found here. To be considered, NU|ACES students must submit an application. Honorees are invited to the Suit Awards dinner at the end of the academic year.
The highest honor in the program is the Ace of Spades: Global Citizen Award, for students who have dedicated time each year throughout their college careers to becoming more engaged citizens and community members locally, nationally, and abroad. 2020 was the first year that students were eligible for the Ace of Spades.
Contact: communityservice@northeastern.edu
Recognitions
City and Community Engagement and associated staff, faculty members, and students have received the following recognitions from our campus and community partners.