Arlington Student Recognized for Cultivating Community and Connections
By: Izabela Shubair
As Akash Sancheti glided across the ice, he noticed that besides him and his fellow students, the Georgetown ice rink was nearly empty. He felt as if the rink had been opened just for them. Among the 15 peers skating alongside the Master of Science in Computer Science student, some had laced up their skates for the first time, while others were more experienced on the ice. Despite their varying levels of expertise, all the students were enjoying themselves and creating lasting memories.
The memorable outing was just one of the many events Sancheti organized during his time at the Arlington campus, each aimed at fostering a vibrant and interconnected student community.
His dedication to supporting students in connecting outside the classroom has earned Sancheti the 2025 Outstanding Network Student Award for the Arlington campus. The award recognizes a student who has excelled in academics, research, leadership, teaching, or making an impact.
“Getting involved is so important to our overall development,” says Sancheti, who recently accepted his award at the Academic Honors Convocation in Boston. “Not only do you experience new things and gain new skills, but you also create a community. When you reflect on your time at Northeastern and ask yourself, ‘What did I do on campus besides study?’, you don’t want to regret missing out on making those connections.”
Envisioning a Thriving Campus
When Sancheti started his studies, he noticed that busy graduate students often attended class and left promptly afterward. It was clear to him that their schedules reduced opportunities to build relationships. While others may have only seen a challenge, Sancheti recognized the potential to cultivate a vibrant environment where students could thrive intellectually and socially. At the same time, bringing students together would enable Sancheti to meet his personal goal of taking initiative during his graduate studies.
“I’ve always been very social, and having moved to the U.S. from India for my master’s, I knew that the best place to make friends would be at school,” says Sancheti, who chose Northeastern for its established co-op program. “I thought, ‘If I’m feeling this way, others must be as well.’ That’s when I realized that having a platform to bring people together made sense. At that time, there were no student groups, so I decided to take the initiative to start one.”
Sancheti turned to his academic advisor for guidance in launching a club. He established the Arlington Explorers’ Society to promote outdoor exploration and cultural engagement. To ensure accessibility, Sancheti initially organized cost-effective opportunities like Frisbee games and hikes. He also collaborated closely with university leadership to expand experiences while keeping them accessible and meaningful. Students, for example, attended an NBA game, explored museums, and visited the Library of Congress.
More than that, Sancheti spoke to students, listening to their ideas and feedback and incorporating their interests.
“It was really great to see people looking forward to the events, suggesting activities, and engaging with students from different departments whom they might not have had the chance to connect with otherwise,” he says.
Furthering Community Engagement
The Arlington Explorers’ Society isn’t Sancheti’s only contribution to Northeastern’s Arlington campus community. He also held a position as a graduate teaching assistant, mentoring his peers in the Fundamentals of Cloud Computing course, and served as the Global Recreation Brand Ambassador. The ambassador role enabled Sancheti to initiate programs and events that further encouraged participation.
It also allowed him to continue collaborating with student organizations, faculty, and university departments to create spaces where students could feel a sense of belonging. As the brand ambassador, Sancheti remained focused on affordable events and addressed the interests of both domestic and international students.
“Being a brand ambassador aligned really well with what I was already doing in the student club,” he says. “Contributing to the Arlington campus has been at the heart of my Northeastern experience and has taught me a lot.”
Personal and Community Growth
Beyond helping to enhance the campus’s welcoming atmosphere, Sancheti says that engaging with peers outside of an academic setting is an organic way to expand one’s personal and professional networks.
“Getting involved is so important to developing soft skills and communication skills,” he says. “Talking to different people and observing and learning about new cultures also helps you gain perspective. You’re building a network without even realizing it and gaining interpersonal skills for your personal and professional life. These experiences stay with you.”
Sancheti’s involvement has also been a source of personal growth. By wearing multiple hats in his community roles, he says he has broadened his knowledge of budgeting, marketing, and project and time management.
As he prepares to use his Computer Science degree to leverage technology to solve real-world problems and enhance user experiences, Sancheti hopes the student community at Northeastern University in Arlington will continue to expand. He also envisions the Arlington Explorers’ Society remaining a staple that brings people together well into the future.
“I think the award I received shows that I’ve made a positive impact, and my work was appreciated,” he says. “It feels great to be recognized. I also hope I’ve planted the seeds students need to grow the club, strengthen the community, and have fun.”
Students interested in the Arlington Explorers’ Club should email arl.ss@northeastern.edu to join.