Igniting Bright Futures
Torch Scholars at Northeastern are committed to personal growth. They seek academic excellence, and they prioritize uplifting the communities around them. The Torch Scholars Program creates a network of support made up of peers, teachers, mentors, and program staff to ensure that each cohort of exceptional, first-generation college students have access to the resources and guidance they need to not only succeed, but to thrive.
Your dedication to the Torch Program makes this holistic approach to education possible, empowering our students to dream big and achieve their goals. Thank you.
Beating the Odds
The Torch Scholars Program graduation rate is 87%, well above the 50% national average for first-generation, low-income students.
Class of 2025
This spring, 9 Torch Scholars are graduating! The program has a 100% expected graduation rate for cohorts graduating in 2025 and 2026.
Academic Excellence
28% of Torch Scholars made the Dean’s List in 2024.
Pursuing their Passions
Torch Scholars have a diverse range of interests, with majors across seven Northeastern colleges, representing 33 degree programs and 17 combined majors.
Succeeding from the Start
More than half of first-year students made the Dean’s List in the fall of 2024, with an average GPA of 3.42.
Future STEM Leaders
79% of upper-class Torch Scholars are in STEM majors.
Through the Torch Scholars Program, students receive unparalleled support to help them succeed. They participate in one-on-one meetings with academic advisors, benefit from close mentorships, and develop skills in self-advocacy, communication, study habits, and goal setting.
Beyond academic achievement, Torch Scholars grow into leaders, becoming mentors to younger Torch students, driving community service efforts across Boston, and inspiring other aspiring first-generation college students around the country.
Torch students spoke to middle and high school in Florida over Spring Break 2025. Torch Scholars frequently meet with prospective students to publicize the program.
“The Torch Scholars program gave me the opportunity to pursue my passion. Without Torch, I would not have been able to attend such a prestigious university with high-quality access to scientific research. It has shaped my college life entirely and completely, and I owe a lot of my success to it.”
– Mark, College of Science, 2026
Keyla Eusebio (forefront), Senior Assistant Director for Opportunity Scholarship & Outreach Programs, accompanied Torch Scholars on their Spring Break 2025 trip to visit schools around Florida.
“Without the community the Torch Scholarship has provided me with and the wider community of NU, I would have struggled a lot more to find confidence in myself and my abilities and, without a doubt, would have felt a lot more alone. The diverse communities I've been a part of, whether it be through Torch, through clubs and organizations, my academic cohort, or through random friends I've made along the way, have made me feel like a part of something bigger, part of a real team of people who want you to succeed. Overtime, I've become comfortable and proud of myself and not afraid to be me in almost every context, which feels huge to me. Northeastern is a place where I feel at home and feel connected to the people around me, students, professors, and mentors alike.”
– N, College of Science, 2026
2024 Torch Scholars
Competitive Candidates
437 high school students were nominated by teachers and community members to become 2024 Torch Scholars.
National Representation
Nominees were from all across the country, representing 31 states and Puerto Rico.
The Final Cohort
The final Torch 19 cohort is made up of 15 students from 11 different states.
“Without Torch, the possibility of college felt like an unachievable dream I could only wish for. Torch has given me the tools to carve the path I've always desired.”
– M, Khoury College of Computer Sciences, 2029
Click here to learn more about the most recent cohort of Torch Scholars.
Alumni Success
The skills, habits, and networks Torch Scholars build at Northeastern set them up for success throughout their lives.
Many Torch alumni have gone on to further education, currently studying at doctoral and professional programs at Cornell, Northeastern, Yale, UCLA, and UPenn in subjects including mathematics, biomedical engineering, nursing, business, electrical engineering, and medicine. Other alumni are now in master’s programs at Northeastern, Texas A&M, and Duke in game design, business, architecture, and water management.
Torch alumni have set out for success in a wide variety of fields, as well. Some are just beginning their careers and others are at the VP levels in their organizations - from financial firms like Andersen to biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Former students are:
- employed as paralegals while studying for law school,
- clinical support and residential counselors,
- research associates and postgrad research fellows,
- risk analysts,
- software engineers,
- clinical research coordinators,
- designers for architecture firms,
- contributing journalists,
- AmeriCorps volunteers, and
- natural resource specialists.
“Being a Torch Scholar has opened windows of professional opportunity and personal exploration that has deepened my understanding of the world's cultures, political systems, historical past, and current day issues. It's not only sharped my academic skills but, more significantly, has engrained an ability to apply important material to my life, and helped me discover what I deem ‘important.’”
– Nicole, College of Science, 2026
2024-2025 Torch Highlights
The Torch Scholars Program staff continues to innovate and find new ways to connect and support students.
This year, they launched the Filling Our Cup program, designed to foster community and discuss issues around loneliness, anxiety, and depression with activities and skill-building. Led by a licensed MSW facilitator, these weekly meetings spanned the fall and spring semesters and included events such as ‘Stress Management and Clay Art’ and ‘Visioning the Future.’
The Torch Scholars Program was also nominated for the National Partnership for Educational Access’s (NPEA) Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Award for Excellence this year, in recognition of the program’s leadership in the NPEA Community.
Science Connects to Innovation Award
Torch 17 member Donte’ Lewis received the Science Connects to Innovation Award in March 2025!
Science Connects to Innovation rewards science students for pursuing entrepreneurial solutions to some of the world’s most challenging issues, from climate change to anticancer research. It seeks to inspire students to engage with Northeastern’s venture creation network, offering support for recognizing and pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities. The program also provides essential resources for translating ideas into ventures, encompassing prototyping, marketing, and more.
“Entrepreneurship has allowed me to view science from a more creative perspective. I am allowed to think beyond traditional boundaries and explore theoretical research with real-world applications. Embracing an entrepreneurial mindset has challenged the way I approach my studies and research because now I see them as inventive problem-solving,” Donte’ says.
“The Torch Scholars Program not only invested in my dreams, goals, and aspirations; but also gave me the space and resources to think, plan, and grow.”
– Henry, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, 2025
Thank You
Your generosity enables Torch Scholars to become integral members of the vibrant Northeastern community. You are giving them the opportunity and freedom to discover their interests, broaden their worldviews, and reach for success.
As we approach the 20th year of the Torch Scholars Program next year, we look forward to celebrating all that the Torch family has achieved, as students and alumni, as mentors and advisors, and as supporters of our exceptional students. Thank you for being a partner in this work.
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