John Coughlin '22 Honored with T.O.N.Y. Award

Xaverian Class of 2022 graduate John Coughlin has been named one of Ten Outstanding Norwood Youth (T.O.N.Y.). The T.O.N.Y. Awards acknowledge Norwood residents in grades 10-12 who have made significant contributions of their time, effort, and talent to the community. This annual awards program seeks to highlight the winners as positive role models for younger students. 

John’s enjoyment of service started at a young age and continued throughout his high school career. He was involved in scouting from kindergarten through grade 6, earning his Arrow of Light. In grade 7, he started an eyeglasses collection drive, Hawk Eyes for New Eyes, collecting over 2,000 eyeglasses and donating the lenses to the non-profit organization, New Eyes. Through Xaverian programs such as campus ministry and the Xaverian Leadership Institute, John was able to volunteer his time assembling packages of canned goods at the Greater Boston Food Bank and visiting the residents who have Alzheimer’s at Benchmark Senior Living, helping to facilitate bingo games. 

In addition to being a member of the National Honor Society and serving as a Eucharistic Minister and a peer mentor, John also used his time to volunteer in Xaverian’s admissions office, where he gave tours and spoke about his experiences with prospective students. In his T.O.N.Y application essay, he states, “I have participated in many service opportunities, which have all brought me great joy and helped form the mold of my current self.” 

The winners of the 2022 T.O.N.Y Awards were celebrated at Orient Lodge on March 27, and each received a proclamation from Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, as well as a plaque and $500. Remembering the night of the awards, John says he felt humbled after hearing how each nominee's acts of service not only impacted the town of Norwood, but their schools and beyond. “Every nominee deserved this award, and it was an honor to stand alongside my Norwood peers.” 

John will be attending Boston College next year, where he will be studying economics at the Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences (MCAS). “I look forward to my next four years at Boston College, prepared to take on anything because of Xaverian." John says. “While I am now an Eagle at Boston College, I will always be a brother of the Xaverian community.”