BOSTON – Northeastern student-athletes Caton Downey of women's soccer and Margaret Walsh of women's rowing were selected as two of the university's prestigious Huntington 100, an honor that recognizes outstanding undergraduate and graduate students for their achievements in the classroom and in the community. Northeastern's robust lineage of student excellence was extended last week when the university honored the newest members of the Huntington 100 in a ceremony with President Joseph E. Aoun.
 
The honored students were nominated based on criteria that are commensurate with the University's mission, ideals, values and academic plan. The selection committee considered students for their impact on the campus community, record of service, global engagement, demonstrated leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, and commitment to the ideals and values of Northeastern.
 
This year's class includes international athletes, founders of student organizations, military veterans, exceptional volunteers, and more. Nominated by faculty, staff, advisors, coaches, employers, and fellow students, the 2017 Huntington 100 join a distinguished group of alumni whose commitment to excellence extends beyond graduation from Northeastern. Take a look at some of this year's members.
 
Downey pursued personal excellence on the pitch as a student athlete while also making those around her better during her four-year stint with the Huskies. During her time as a member of the women's soccer team, the program won three CAA Tournament Championships, two CAA regular season titles, appeared in the first round of the NCAA tournament twice and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament once. The Yarmouth, Maine native led by example from beginning to end, making her a steady player that her coaches rely on and teammates look up to.
 
In the classroom, Downey maintained a 3.667 grade point average as a member of the D'Amore-McKim School of Business, majoring in business administration with a concentration in management information systems along with a minor in Chinese. During her four years, Downey completed two co-ops at Eaton Vance and PricewaterhouseCoopers, traveled to Nanjing, China on a Dialogue of Civilization and participated in an internship while on Dialogue in Nanjing.
 
"Caton has been one of the greatest examples of a teammate a coach could ask for," said women's soccer head coach Ashley Phillips. "She was one of our hardest working players and her character and commitment shined on and off the field. Caton is an exemplary young woman and I am excited to see where her future takes her."
 
Walsh, a member of the Executive Board of Northeastern's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and two-year captain of the women's rowing team, has been a fixture in the community throughout her career on Huntington Avenue. She has been a three-year member of Northeastern's Social Enterprise Institute, the hub for social entrepreneurship housed in the D'Amore-McKim School of Business grounded in the belief that business can be a powerful tool in helping to alleviate poverty in the developing world by utilizing enterprise based solutions.
 
In addition to being part of the Honors Program and a member of the Dean's List, the Trumbull, Conn. native was also a BizKids Group Leader through the Social Enterprise Institute and a member of the Jumpstart Corps, a 300-hour commitment. She is also a two-time CAA All-Academic Team member and two-time CRCA All-Regional Team.
 
In the classroom, Walsh has a 3.85 grade point average in management and social enterprise dual concentration in the D'Amore-McKim School of Business honors program, where she has been a perennial Dean's List student. In addition, she has been a two time CRCA National Scholar Athlete, a three time CAA Commissioners Award winner, and is in line to receive additional honors later this season. She was also the recipient of the CAA Academic Award for rowing last spring. 
 
Walsh has helped guide the women's rowing program to three straight CAA Championships and three trips to the national tournament, including one as a member of the first varsity boat in 2016. The Huskies will look to defend their league title next weekend in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.