During a combined in-person and virtual ceremony, 13 CAMD students were inducted into the Huntington 100 on Thursday, April 22. Each year, the search committee recognizes 100 students from across Northeastern University’s nine colleges. The program shines a spotlight on the dynamic graduates and undergraduates making major impacts in the areas of research, co-op, athletics, entrepreneurship, community service and leadership.
Benjamin Silvers
Benjamin Silvers performs “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield during Huntington 100 Reception. (Photo Heratch Ekmekjian)
Among the CAMD cohort was Benjamin Silvers, a Music major with minors in Business Administration and Law, and Public Policy. Benjamin’s many accolades include the Compass Award issued by the Office of Alumni Relations and a Trail-Blazer Award presented by the Office of Undergraduate Research.
Using funds from the Trail-Blazer Award, Benjamin spent nine weeks last summer interviewing independent musicians and administering more than 200 surveys. Through ethnographic dialogues, he explored their knowledge of the law as it pertains to entertainment professionals. Following a more conversational methodology, instead of the traditional question-answer format, enabled Benjamin and his subjects to teach one another. His research helped demonstrate the profound lack of information creatives have regarding their intellectual property rights. It has also contributed to his desire to pursue a law degree at Boston University beginning next fall.
Benjamin still doesn’t know who nominated him for the Huntington 100. Regardless, reflecting on all the recent praise, he feels a deep sense of gratitude, remarking, “I’m so passionate about this thing [music and law] and, then, it’s like, you get into it. I still have that passion there, but it’s a lot of work too. So, to get a little pat on the back for everything that I have done and put in all the work for – it is really nice. I am humbled and honored.”
Yael Sheinfeld
In addition to her recent internship and Co-Op experiences, Yael worked in Brand Marketing for Eaton Vance Financial Services. (Photo/Yael Sheinfeld)
Benjamin isn’t the only Huntington 100 inductee with multiple recognitions to their name. Communication Studies student Yael Sheinfeld, who also participated in the reception, is also a standout. She received the 2019-2020 Gideon Klein Award. The honor, presented by the Jewish Studies Department, highlights works related to Holocaust remembrance and the arts.
Yael received the award for her producing role on the film “The Children’s Tree of Terezin.” Adapted from a book with the same title, the animated short tells the true story of how caring for a secret maple tree brought hope to the students at the Terezin Concentration Camp. Together, the pieces create a multiprong resource to help kids engage with the past.
Keeping history top of mind is an important endeavor for the soon-to-be graduate. Over the past two years, she has sat on the planning committee for Northeastern’s yearly Holocaust and Genocide Awareness Week. The thread of social justice and politics can also be seen in her work as an intern at the ACLU headquarters in New York and her past role serving as the Communications Director for Massachusetts Representative Jake Aucincloss’s 4th Congressional District campaign. Yael’s future plans include moving to Washington D.C. to kick off her career at the intersection of politics and communications.
Yael and Benjamin are two of the 13 exceptionally talented students chosen to represent CAMD. Speaking of the honor, Dean Elizabeth Hudson said, “The Huntington 100 is highly selective. Students must possess a comprehensive breadth of skills and accomplishments including academic excellence, a record of service and global engagement. I am always so proud of CAMD students’ creative talent and intelligence. And today, I take immense pleasure in seeing the spotlight shine on this remarkable group in front of the entire Northeastern community.”
View the gallery to see the 2021 CAMD Huntington 100 inductees.
Dania is the Co-Founder of Multi-diverse Unified Leaders in Technology, a student organization that promotes diversity and inclusion in technology. Dania also helped create Build for Black Lives, an online platform that connects black-owned businesses and organizations to professionals offering pro bono digital services. After graduating, she plans to start a digital agency with an emphasis on social justice and empowerment of local businesses and clients in her home country, Bahrain.
Transfer student Luis’s entrepreneurial and innovative spirit was clear the moment he stepped foot on campus. The Game Development and Computer Science major, was an avid leader in student organizations such as Venezuelan Student Unity and Plan País, a Venezuelan non-profit organization, and later founded the
International Hispanic Student Unity. As CEO, UX and Product Director, Luis created SitePlow: the gamified personal growth app. Currently, Luis is focused on entrepreneurship and helping people reach their potential during the pandemic.
Media Arts major Rachel has worn many hats on the Northeastern campus. From her
leadership position in Spark, a student-run contemporary art collective, serving as an Art + Design Advisory Board member and a Student Panelist for Admission Events, Rachel has left her mark on the CAMD community. She also has an extensive track record of academic success. Rachel has been on the Dean’s List in every eligible semester, an active member of the University Honors Program and received CAMD’s George M. Meserve Award.
Computer Science and Media Arts major, Jennifer, has prioritised service to others with her involvement in BuildForBlackLives, HackBeanpot and the Computer Science Mentoring Organization. Jennifer has participated in three different co-op experiences while at Northeastern. During each, she has shown a strong entrepreneurial spirit. Jennifer is always thinking of how she can make a difference or impact on her community.
Combined Theatre and Interaction Design Major upheld the highest standards of excellence as a Northeastern student. Tarik is a recent recipient of the Miranda Family Fellowship, supported in-part by Lin-Manuel Miranda’s family philanthropic fund, and participated in the Eugene O’Neill National Theatre Institute in 2020. With fellow Northeastern students, Tarik co-founded New Renaissance Theatre Company, a student theatre company for and by students of color. Tarik has a sweet simplicity onstage. His energy, charm and sincerity make him stand out from the rest of his peers.
Architecture major Kaitlyn was selected for the School of Architecture Second Year Design Excellence Award and participates in several architecture-related organizations. Kaitlyn is an active volunteer in her community, and participates in the university’s Civic Engagement Program. She has served as a mentor and field trip coordinator for the NU Chapter of Strong Women, Strong Girls and assisted with food distribution at the Boston-based Daily Table, providing nutritious groceries to communities in need. Katelyn intends to remain at Northeastern for an additional year to complete a master’s program.
During her time at Northeastern, Cammy has achieved academic success and engaged larger communities through her volunteer work. She volunteered with NUTells (Northeastern University Teaching English Language and Literacy Skills) to help janitorial staff advance their English skills. Cammy has also undertaken co-ops at two of the most renowned landscape architecture firms in the country: Reed-Hilderbrand in Cambridge, Massachusetts and DLANDstudio in New York City.
Shannon has demonstrated her innate ability to lead in many organizations on Northeastern’s campus. For her Honors Project, Shannon organized workshops and interviews to design a prototype to connect students in Boston Public Schools leading change throughout Boston. Shannon also participated in a Dialogue of Civilizations with Professor Jamal Thorne, in which she studied Japanese Design History and Design Process in Tokyo and Kyoto. Shannon has successfully supplemented her ongoing endeavors in community building through her work and academic experiences at Northeastern University, from Boston to Tokyo.
Communication Studies major Yael’s Northeastern journey started in Montreal as part of the N.U.in program. Later, in Boston, she was the President for the Northeastern University College Democrats. Yael also had two fruitful co-op experiences; the first at Eaton Vance Management and the second serving as a Communications Director for a successful congressional campaign.
Gabbi is a brilliant, collaborative and courageous student who is constantly supporting her peers and faculty members. Gabbi served as an Engagement Teaching Assistant and encouraged participation among students. Her advice was often sought out by faculty with respect to assignments, class structure and improved focus group tactics. She served as President of Northeastern University’s Debate Society. Speaking of the Communication Studies and Political Science major, Professor Greg Goodale said, “Gabbi is an extraordinary young person who will change the direction of national politics and global policy-making.”
Benjamin, a fifth-year senior, is a University Scholar in the Honors program and on the Dean's List. He has worked as an A&R Project Manager for Green Line Records; Music Director of the Distilled Harmony a cappella group; and a stand-out in the Northeastern University Choral Society, along with a variety of other activities as a singer and pianist.
Junior undergraduate Rylee is a leader in the Architecture Department, most notably in the development of a new lecture series focused on equity, diversity and inclusion. Rylee serves as a Vice President in the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) group, and provided critical leadership in the development of the School of Architecture’s enormously successful fall lecture and film series which was crafted through the joint efforts of the National Organization of Minority Architects, Students and AIAS. The entrepreneurial spirit of Rylee’s commitment to fostering connections between architecture and social justice has also shaped her co-op experiences at Utile and Mass Design Group.
In addition to being a talented dancer and choreographer, Nicole is a Master of Architecture degree candidate. She has worked with numerous faculty on extracurricular projects, including as a key student member of the first spatial inclusivity panel hosted by the Architecture department. Nicole is also the co-founder and artistic director of a local concert dance company Evolve Dynamicz, which uses choreography and performance as a platform for mental health advocacy.
