By By Lana Lagomarsini, News Correspondent

Seniors who have excelled in leadership, academic integrity and volunteerism were honored for their efforts Tuesday at the third annual Compass Awards ceremony.
Each award is given to a student nominated from each of the seven colleges who has shown leadership skills during their five years at Northeastern.’ An eighth student, nominated directly through the Alumni Center, is awarded the Wendy Breen Kline award for leadership.
‘All of these students who are receiving awards are tremendous examples of hard work and achievement,’ said Amy Belmore, director of signature events at the Alumni Center.
The awards ceremony took about eight months to plan, Belmore said, and was funded by the Alumni Association. The awards did not have a financial amount, but were symbolic and about leadership and the legacy of the recipients. The recipients and their families, about 100 guests in total, were treated to catered food and a live pianist for the reception.
Recipients of the Compass Awards were Megan LoVullo, a pharmacy major; Kathleen Gillis, English and elementary education major; Matt Eaton, a finance and accounting major; Matt Horan, a computer science major; Liza Sabine-Mathosian, a criminal justice and chemistry major; Ethan LaRochelle, an engineering major; Arnold Phillips, another engineering major; and Jason Horton, a business major.’ Julie Miller, a human sciences and American Sign Language major, received the Wendy Breen Kline award.
‘I didn’t know I was nominated,’ Gillis said. ‘It feels good.’
Gillis is the sixth member in her family to attend Northeastern, and is enrolled in graduate school at Leslie College to study moderate to severe disabilities in children.
Students are nominated through the dean’s office, the Office of Alumni Relations or the Office of Student Affairs,’ Belmore said, and the winners are decided by a committee in the Office of Alumni Relations.
‘[The awards are] a way to recognize students who are on a clear path to alumni leadership,’ Belmore said.
The Compass Awards are distinct in giving each recipient an alumni presenter, who also will serve as a long-term mentor for the students after graduation.
‘I worked hard through my career at Northeastern, and it is great to get the recognition,’ Eaton said.
Eaton served in the B School Beanpot Case Competition for two years, an international business competition that won the championships for 11 out of 13 years, including two while Eaton was on the team.
‘I think that this is a fantastic example of how the alumni community comes together to foster the community for the future,’ Belmore said.