St. Thomas Public Safety Sgt. Reginald Wright, commonly known as Reggie, has made positive connections with students over his career at St. Thomas, but especially with this class of first-year students, prompting the creation of the UST Reggie Fan Club Instagram page.
Wright has been working at St. Thomas for nine years, and he continues to work at St. Thomas because of the connections and relationships he has made with students.
“I would’ve quit a long time ago if it wasn’t for the actual students; the freshness in (students’) mind and the ideals that have been laid upon, then the ideas that you create as an adult,” Wright said.
His love and support for students does not go unappreciated, and first-year Ben Duffing decided to do something about it.
It started by Wright speaking at the first-year orientation, and it has progressed into over thirty people making t-shirts with “<3 Reggie” on them.
“I just think he was a really infectious person, and I really like how he commanded my attention in a respectful, admiring way,” Duffing said.
Wright believes the atmosphere he creates is just from him being himself.
Duffing recognizes how Wright interacts with the students, and Wright said a combination of his roles outside of St. Thomas affects how he treats students, including being a worship leader at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church.
“I represent the kingdom. I represent my family. I represent me. And then by proxy, I represent the school vicariously,” Wright said. “So as a representative of the school, why not put my best foot forward.”
Wright also brings the Christmas spirit to various families, and the St. Thomas community, by dressing as Santa during the holiday season.
“Being Santa is just another embodiment of the goodwill spirit, and allows me to interact and act out and carry out and basically act like a 350 pound kid,” Wright said.
Wright says being Santa is just an extension of himself, and he has more fun than the kids he visits.
Duffing said Wright’s joy and love for his job is what made him recognize Wright.
“He honestly makes me feel safe,” Duffing said. “I don’t know how to describe it, but just the way he talked, and then he’s just got such a friendly face and persona and the big beard, it’s like a big guy that seems so warm and welcoming.”
While the Reggie Fan Club is currently just an Instagram group, they want to extend its reach to include more BIPOC students, staff and community members.
“I think maybe discussions with some of our staff members who are people of color; I think that’s what I would want to focus the club on,” Duffing said.
He encourages students to utilize the create[space] on campus to make Reggie t-shirts, and he emphasizes that this club is all for Wright, not himself.
“I’m glad that he got some of the recognition that I believe he deserves,” Duffing said.
Natalie Hoepner can be reached at hoep8497@stthomas.edu.