More than 12,000 students earned degrees on Sunday, representing all 50 states and more than 125 countries.
Sean Callahan’s family has a sizable connection to Northeastern University.
He and his wife received their master’s degrees from the university — his in industrial engineering and his wife’s in taxation. And decades ago, his mother earned her doctorate in toxicology from Northeastern.
On Sunday, the Callahans’ daughter Francesca was added to the list, graduating from the university with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting.
Sean Callahan says Northeastern’s co-ops — his daughter worked at several Boston accounting firms — added to an already world-class education.
“The co-ops gave my daughter that real-world experience,” he said. “I think it’s important to have that work experience even before you graduate.”
The Callahans were among the thousands of parents and loved ones who attended graduate and undergraduate commencement ceremonies at Fenway Park on Sunday. More than 12,000 students earned degrees, representing all 50 states and more than 125 countries.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by @northeastern
A post shared by @northeastern
Phil and Kathy Pyrce were excited to see their daughter complete her bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in journalism.
Their daughter worked on the staff of The Huntington News, the student newspaper, and did co-ops at several public relations agencies around the country.
“It’s been a week of wonderful events,” Phil Pryce said before commencement.
For Soukayna and Amadou Kane, they were thankful to see their son Mohamed Karim Kane thrive during his four years at Northeastern. On Sunday, he graduated with his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering.
Mohamed Karim was a member of the men’s rowing team. He also did several co-ops, including one at Walt Disney World.
“It’s a blessing to be able to have your child get this kind of education,” said Soukayna Kane, his mother. “It’s a privilege for him and us.”
Laurie and Lori Arvin-McFadden traveled from Colorado to see their daughter Bailey Carson receive her master’s degree in management. Carson works at PricewaterhouseCoopers and earned her degree while working at the company full time.
“Our experience and our journey with Bailey has been a surprise, but sometimes those are the best experiences,” said Laurie Arvin-McFadden. “We didn’t know a year ago that we’d be coming to Fenway Park in Northeastern to see her get her master’s.”
Sign up for NGN’s daily newsletter for news, discovery and analysis from around the world.
Lori Arvin-McFadden said she’s been amazed by her daughter’s tenacity.
“She never said, ‘This is so difficult. I don’t know why I chose this path,’ Lori said. “She just sailed through.”
The family has been impressed with what Northeastern has to offer, highlighting how relaxed they feel on the campus and around the city.
“Everybody has been amazingly nice and friendly,” said Laurie Arvin-McFadden.
Kari Callahan and LJ Callahan were celebrating two Northeastern grads on Sunday — their son Cameron, who earned his master’s degree in engineering, and their son Trevor, who earned a bachelor’s degree in bioengineering and biochemistry.
“Both of them worked very hard to get where they are in school,” said LJ Callahan, noting that both are graduating summa cum laude.
Cameron Callahan attended Northeastern’s Gordon Institute of Engineering Leadership through a scholarship from his employer, Bose.
“He’s developed a lot of leadership management skills that he’s already implemented at his company,” said Cameron’s girlfriend, Danielle Burton, who was also in attendance. “His project at the Gordon program is tied to his work at Bose. They’ve been changing a lot of things internally based on what he has learned, and it’s been really impactful for him.”
Trevor Callahan completed co-ops at ReNAgade Therapeutics and Sage Product Development.
“He’s taken his experiences from [his co-ops], and he’s ready to apply it,” said his mother.
Holding their 11-month-old daughter, Evie, Nolan Shepard was waiting outside Fenway to celebrate his wife, Alex Shepard, who received her master’s degree in civil engineering with a concentration in construction management.
Alex Shepard works at Northeastern as a senior capital projects manager. She decided to get her master’s to open new doors.
“I’m very proud of her because she did it while having this one,” he said, lovingly gesturing to his daughter. “She spent most of the degree, it being three years, either pregnant or taking care of this baby.”
What a lovely way to celebrate Mother’s Day.
“I’m glad that she’s been able to get this opportunity,” he said. “She’s been able to fulfill even more of her dreams.”