What do the New England Patriots, Meta, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, KLTV 7 in East Texas, and Boston Children’s Hospital have in common? All are organizations represented by exceptional alumni who were honored at the 2026 Suffolk University 10 Under 10 Awards Night, held on the final evening of April.
Against the downtown backdrop of Suffolk’s historic campus, alumni, students, faculty, trustees, families, and friends gathered to celebrate a remarkable group of young leaders who are shaping industries, communities, and causes just ten years or fewer beyond graduation. From professional sports and global technology to healthcare, media, and nonprofit advocacy, this year’s honorees reflect the extraordinary reach and impact of a Suffolk education.
The 2026 10 Under 10 Awards Night was more than a celebration of early career success—it was a testament to ambition, service, and the shared Suffolk spirit that continues to ripple far beyond downtown Boston. The always uplifting event was once again emceed by 2023 honoree Tiffany Chan, BSJ ’13, who expressed her delight at being back to help celebrate the achievements of some of Suffolk’s most accomplished alumni.
In her remarks, President Marisa Kelly remembered the honorees as students who “made the most of their time [at the University]. They engaged, they spread their wings, they took their talents and their passions and developed them. And wow, just look at where they are now… Individually and as a group, they are truly an inspiration to us all.”
Those inspiring individuals have achieved considered success in the 10 years or less since they graduated from Suffolk. Among these remarkable alumni is a Haitian American multidisciplinary music artist and internationally recognized performer, who also happens to be an immigration attorney and the Legal Services Coordinator and Immigration Policy Analyst for the City of Somerville. Rebecca Zama, BA ’19 was even named a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture for her cultural impact. Zama described her experience of Suffolk as a “place of mentorship, a place of support from faculty, from school leaders, from professors, all of whom showed that it's not just… a job, it's a calling. And…that they had truly a passion for education, a passion for those that they are serving…and they cared.”
Many honorees joined Zama in affirming the transformative impact of their Suffolk education. Hannah Arroyo, BA ’20, thanked her Suffolk community for helping to shape her and influence the path that led to her current role as Foundation Relations Manager for Kraft Sports & Entertainment. Arroyo herself received a shout-out from fellow honoree JD Conte, BS ’23, now an Emmy-award-winning journalist in Texas, who thanked her for giving him his first push into journalism saying, “It’s the reason I‘m standing where I am today.” Conte, who also thanked faculty and staff, was unable to attend in person, but sent remarks that were pre-recoded in the TV studio where he works.
Maria Isabella Natale Castillo, BS ’21, a senior clinical research coordinator at Boston Children’s Hospital, also credited Suffolk for giving her the opportunities that she needed to unlock her potential when she was just starting out as an international student. Another former international student, Tyler La, BSBA ’17, a staff product designer at Meta, expressed similar gratitude for the support he received at Suffolk. “I came to Boston when I was 17, by myself, not really knowing who I was going to become or what I wanted to do. And I appreciate Suffolk for giving me the space, the resources, and the footing, to figure myself out along the journey.”
First-generation college student Phyliss St-Hubert, BS ’16, Deputy Chief of Staff of Executive Operations for Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, said Suffolk truly changed her life. “I'm grateful for the opportunities and the access that I was able to get here at Suffolk… And that has really been able to help me carry through the rest of my life professionally and personally.”
Another alumnus who can be found just down the street in Boston’s City Hall is Enrique Pepén, BS ’19, Elected to the Boston City Council in 2023, only four years after graduating, Pepén shared how he fell in love with Suffolk and the downtown campus that enabled him to take classes, work full-time, and do an internship with then-City Councilor Tito Jackson. Now Pepén is the one offering a paid internship to a Suffolk student every year. He even hired a Suffolk student to be the campaign manager for his reelection. Noting that he won that campaign, Pepén observed, “it just shows you that Suffolk is the gift that keeps on giving.”
Like Pepén, many of this year’s honorees remain invested and involved with the Suffolk community. Sarkis Kavlakian, BSBA ’20, currently teaches real estate courses at Suffolk and started a nonprofit organization that provides internships for undergraduate students studying real estate at Suffolk (FIX!). Laura Velez, BSBA ’22, Economic and Statistical Services Consultant at KPMG, serves on the advisory board for Suffolk’s FinTech Women chapter, which she founded while an undergraduate. “There's so much that I want to give back to this community,” she said. Jonathan McTague, BS ’18, MPA ’21, a lead volunteer and advocate for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and a former Suffolk employee, also spoke about the importance of being a donor. “I came to Suffolk on a scholarship, like so many of our students today. And I believe deeply that if you have benefited from that support, you have an obligation to…give it back… And it's not about the size of the gift; it truly is about the belief and about the participation, and continuing that story for someone else.” He urged his fellow honorees to “Stay connected, stay involved, and when and if you can, give back.”
10 Under 10 is an annual recognition event hosted by the Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) Council in partnership with the Division of Advancement. An honor roll of past honorees can be viewed here.
College of Arts & Sciences Honorees
Hannah Arroyo, BA '20
Foundation Relations Manager, Kraft Sports Entertainment
JD Conte, BS '23
Multimedia Journalist and Reporter, KLTV
Jonathan McTague, BS '18, MPA '21
Director of Development, Tisch College, Tufts University
Maria Isabella Natale Castillo, BS '21
Senior Clinical Research Coordinator, Boston Children's Hospital
Enrique Pepén, BS '19
City Councilor, City of Boston
Phyliss St-Hubert, BS '18
Deputy Chief of Staff of Executive Operations for Boston Mayor Michelle Wu
Rebecca Zama, BA '19
Legal Services Coordinator & Immigration Policy Analyst, City of Somerville Office of Immigrant Affairs
Sawyer Business School Honorees
Sarkis Kavlakian, BSBA '20
Real Estate Portfolio Manager, KL Realty
Professor of Real Estate, Suffolk University
Tyler La, BSBA '17
Staff Product Designer, Meta
Laura Velez BSBA '22
Economic & Statistical Services Consultant, KPMG