As it begins to recognize its centennial year, Regis College celebrated its 96th commencement on Saturday, May 9 at the Leader Bank Pavilion, where it awarded 1,036 degrees from associate to doctoral levels.
With more than 600 nursing students graduating, the degree was once again the highest number awarded among the university’s programs amid the local, regional and national nursing shortage. To address the urgent need for health care professionals during a national and regional nursing shortage, Regis has graduated more than 3,700 nursing students in the past five years.
With her approaching retirement on June 30, Antoinette Hays, PhD, RN, reflected on her 15 years as president in her final remarks to the graduating class.
President Hays was awarded an honorary degree for her compassionate and visionary leadership. This year’s commencement marks the conclusion of President Hays’ leadership of the university.
Kerry Kennedy, President of the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center delivered the commencement address and received an honorary degree.
Honorary degrees were also awarded to Kathleen Jose ‘87, ‘94, MSN, RN, former chair of the university’s board and chief nursing officer of Lahey Health; Tracy Palandjian, MBA, co-founder and CEO of Social Finance; and Gerald Algere, senior vice president and managing director of institutional banking at The Washington Trust Company.
The Class of 2026 President Sarai Velez ‘26 and Graduate Student Speaker Lilla Torontali ‘24, G’26 also imparted words of inspiration on the Class of 2026.
[As prepared for delivery] “We learned through our time at Regis that we will fail; that things will not always go our way. In fact, we may fail more than we succeed,” Velez ‘26 said. “But we will succeed. We will work harder, we will try again, and we will persevere. Because our resilience got us here today. We will leave this pavilion stronger and wiser than the freshmen who arrived four years ago. These degrees are a testament to our determination, and together we go into the world ready to serve the dear neighbor.”
Students who were awarded degrees included:
Estefania Restrepo, of East Boston, received a Biology degree.
Alexis Wright, of East Boston, received a Medical Imaging degree.