SAMANTHA BERGERON '23

Report on philanthropy:
ALUMNI spotlight

 

Becoming a mother instilled a deep sense of responsibility for Samantha Bergeron ’23—and a desire to provide her 10-year-old son, Donovan, with the best possible future.

Becoming a mother instilled a deep sense of responsibility for Samantha Bergeron ’23—and a desire to provide her 10-year-old son, Donovan, with the best possible future.

“I wanted to be a role model for my son and show him the importance of determination and hard work in achieving one’s goals,” Bergeron says.

As a single working mother, Bergeron’s scholarship helped bridge the gap between the dream and the reality of graduating with a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene.

Bergeron admits that the responsibilities of motherhood, working fulltime, and school were challenging, but she says that when she accepted her diploma, she knew her perseverance was worth it. “The support and understanding from my professors and colleagues at Regis made things manageable,” she says.

Bergeron credits Regis’ rigorous curriculum, dedicated faculty, and practical experiences for providing a well-rounded education in Regis’ state-of-the-art Dental Center in Waltham, Massachusetts. “The Regis mission statement to ‘educate the whole person’ has proven invaluable to my professional endeavors,” she says.

Now working as a registered dental hygienist in Milton, Massachusetts, Bergeron provides comprehensive oral health care and focuses on preventive measures and patient education. “It has been an exciting and challenging experience that allows me to apply the knowledge and skills I acquired during my time at Regis,” says Bergeron.

As Bergeron continues her professional career, she plans to pay forward the kindness and generosity that she says she received during her time at Regis. “I am forever grateful for the support I received through the Hannah Bradley Scholarship and that someone saw potential in me,” she says. “My scholarship support was instrumental in making my educational and professional aspirations a reality, and I hope to help others in need in the future.”

Returning to school as a non-traditional student can be a daunting experience, but Bergeron hopes her story will inspire others—especially her son.

“When I think about my journey inspiring Donovan to follow his dreams one day, I am filled with pride and motivation to keep going,” says Bergeron. “If he can look at my experiences and see that obstacles can be overcome with perseverance, then I have not only built a better future for our family but also set an example for the next generation."