John Tegan, Founder of Communication Technology Services and former Regis Board Chairman, Honored with the Prestigious Shining Example Award
Regis College raised more than $720,000 in scholarship funds for students in financial need at the university’s Let It Shine Gala at the Four Seasons in Boston on Thursday night. More than 250 guests gathered to honor Communication Technology Services founder John J. Tegan, Jr., with the Shining Example Award for his inspiring charitable work and service to the Regis and Greater Boston communities.
Tegan served as Regis Board Chairman for five years and led the university to surpass its $40 million campaign in 2019. His own leadership campaign gift resulted in the naming of the Lorraine Tegan Learning Commons on campus, a tribute to his late wife and Regis alumna Lorraine DeStefano Tegan. Tegan’s lifetime giving to Regis now totals a transformative $1.9 million.
“John Tegan led Regis through an era of rapid growth that has enabled the university to fulfill its mission of expanding higher education access,” said Regis President Antoinette Hays, PhD, RN. “The generosity of John and the Tegan family has ensured that Regis can continue educating a diverse group of students, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college.”
The impact of the Tegan family can be seen throughout the Regis campus: in students who benefit from financial assistance, in the Tegan Learning Commons, and in Lorraine’s Leaders, a comprehensive pre-college planning program funded by the Tegan family for rising high school juniors and seniors from economically disadvantaged backgrounds interested in pursuing health care or science careers.
The event, emceed by NBC Boston’s Jericho Tran, showcased several Regis students including Thomas Genzale, Jr. ‘25, an undergraduate in the Young School of Nursing who spoke about his internships at Moderna and MGH Shriners Hospital for Children. First-generation biomedical engineering student Bridgette Bowyer ‘24, an intern at Ranfac Corporation, spoke about being instrumental in addressing a challenge with bone marrow tap devices and thanked donors for their support.
“Regis is a community built on service and aid, and we are the future healers this world needs—nurses, dentists, physical therapists, nuclear medicine technicians, biologists, biomedical engineers, and so much more,” said Bowyer. “So to all of you, thank you for all that you give.”
The Shining Example Award was presented to Tegan by Kathie Jose, chair of the Regis Board of Trustees and former chief nursing officer and senior vice president of Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, along with event co-chairs Patrice Tegan McCloskey, Regis trustee, and Susan Greene Hellman, and President Hays.
“I am passionate about supporting Regis because of the mission, diversity, and Catholic identity, and I believe that in today's world, we need some positive examples of where we can go and what we can do,” said Tegan. “And at Regis, students can gain the tools to do anything. I've seen a great spirit in the students, faculty, and staff under the leadership of President Hays."
“Regis is grateful to all sponsors and guests,” said Hays. “Special thanks to top sponsors the Regis Board of Trustees, the Tegan family, the Domitilla Society of former trustees, Communication Technology Services, Jennifer Eckert and Richard D’Amore, William and Jane Mosakowski, and Brian Young.”
Since it was launched in 2016, Regis’ Let It Shine Gala has raised more than $5.8 million for student scholarships.
The Let It Shine Gala was attended by several notable individuals including Rich D’Amore, General Partner of North Bridge Venture Partners; Joe Preston, New Balance CEO; Linda Sloane Kay, Former Vice Chair of Century Bank and Century Bancorp, Inc.; Patrice Tegan McCloskey, chief information officer of Communications Technology Services, LLC, and gala co-chair; John Tegan III, CEO of Communication Technology Services, LLC; Jane Carroll, VP, Global Commercial and Medical Operations at Moderna; John Gray, president and chief executive officer of Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA); Glenn Morris, founder and chairman of Morris Architects; Kevin Conroy, partner at Foley Hoag LLP; Jeff Navin, Vice President of Project Management and Procurement, Consigli Construction; Lisa Lynch, Maurice B. Hexter professor of social and economic policy in Brandeis University's Heller School for Social Policy and Management; William Sheehan, retired Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sonesta International Hotels Corporation and current Director and Treasurer of A Faith That Does Justice; Jeff Lynch, CEO of Enterprise Equipment Co.; Paul Lonergan, CEO of Congress Wealth Management; Alix Cantave, senior program officer at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation; Carol Donovan, former representative in the Massachusetts House of Representatives; Nancy Gaden, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) of Boston Medical Center; and others.
