Northeastern University Welcomes Newest Round of OUSD Graduates to Its Class of 2030

The members of the Class of 2030, the newest students at Northeastern University Oakland, moved into their campus housing on Thursday. Six of these students are not only graduates of Oakland schools, but they are also recipients of the Northeastern Oakland Opportunity Scholarship, which are full ride scholarships that cover tuition along with room and board here on the Oakland campus and at the school’s other campuses. These scholarships are valued at $340,000 per student for their four years of undergraduate schooling.

The scholarship recipients were celebrated on campus at a recent breakfast for them and their families. It was a warm welcome that gave them the opportunity to get to know each other and hear more about their future at the university. We spoke with several of the students to see how they’re feeling about Northeastern, the scholarships, and their futures. Here’s what they had to say.

“When I first found out (about the scholarship) I was really happy, and when I told my parents, they were even more excited than me. I’m so grateful for this because it shows all the things I’ve done in high school have paid off for me. And it’s also kind of nice because I get to stay nearby,” said Houtian L., a graduate of Oakland Tech who plans to major in engineering. “I feel like this shows Northeastern University is really connected to the Oakland community especially that they’re willing to provide this kind of crazy opportunity where students are able to get a full scholarship for all four years. I see this as a way for the school to give back to the Oakland community.”

“I was waking up from a nap, and I was like ‘Oh, I have to check my email.’ And so the first thing I see on the screen is ‘Oakland Opportunity Scholarship Update,’ and so I check it out, and I was slightly confused. However, when I opened it up, it said congratulations, I was very excited. I didn’t tell my mother until she was at home and in person. Yeah, we were both very excited. Very proud,” said Michelle R. from CCPA. “This scholarship means a lot to me as I plan to pursue a career in neurosurgery. It’s a very expensive career, and I’m willing to put in the work… The scholarship told me that I have a community in Oakland that will have my back, and I can come back to Oakland and be a role model.”

“I always thought of Northeastern as one of the top schools that I want to apply to… I was applying to Northeastern as a regular student, and my Upward Bound director informed me about the scholarship. I wasn’t really too sure that I was going to get into the school in the first place, and to get a full-ride scholarship on top of that would be kind of crazy,” said Jalal H., a graduate of Skyline High who is planning to have the combined politics, philosophy, and economics major, was stunned by winning the scholarship. “I can’t put it into words. It’s surreal, it doesn’t feel like it’s actually happening. I would have probably been paying this off for a very, very long time. It’s a top opportunity to move forward in life.”

“My parents have put pressure on me to get into college, and they’ve been really supportive throughout my academic career. So, it’s been really nice to kind of pay them back in a sense” by relieving them of having to pay for college, said Miles H. from Oakland High who will be majoring in biology. “Northeastern was one of the schools I would have liked to come to anyway because of the Oakland community. And I really like the East Coast because I have some family out there, so this was one of my top options… I’m planning to go to Boston… Kind of work on that skill of independence, as well.”

Miles added a piece of advice for this year’s high school seniors and those that follow. “You should definitely take advantage of (the Northeastern Oakland Opportunity Scholarship). It’s a great opportunity to further your academic education for free at a school that offers so much opportunity for students.”

Oakland Unified Superintendent Dr. Denise Saddler spoke at the breakfast. “This is such a gift, and I want to thank Northeastern for acknowledging our students in this way. It’s a wonderful gift. And lastly, I just want to remind you all, just take advantage of everything, the opportunity to travel to the other campuses… You have people all over who want you to be successful. And I have to take this moment to congratulate our students, and congratulate our families who have supported you.”

The other OUSD students we received the scholarships are Amy H. from Oakland Tech and Emily L. from Skyline High.

The previous scholarship winners from the Classes of 2024 have already been able to spend a year at the Boston campus, and the members of the class of 2025 are there this fall. And there are options for them to continue their studies at the campuses in other parts of the country including New York, plus the three international campuses in Vancouver, Toronto, and London.

Classes begin at Northeastern next Wednesday. This year’s high school seniors across Oakland Unified will get their opportunity to apply for next year’s Oakland Opportunity Scholarship at Northeastern later this semester.