Adult Ed Program Celebrates Students at MCLA
NORTH ADAMS — Tais Keels gave her first public speech Thursday night, and she delivered it like a seasoned pro.The 18-year-old resident of Savoy was one of five student speakers at the Northern Berkshire Adult Basic Education
.jpg) GED graduate Tais Keels was one of five student speakers Thursday night. |
"A noble man once said that the gift of knowledge is the most powerful weapon which one can use to change the world," Keels eloquently stated in front of a large gathering of students, teachers, family and friends at the Sullivan Lounge in the college's Amsler Campus Center.
In its 34th year, the NBABE offers free learning opportunities in reading, writing, math, technology, GED preparation and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Students vary in ages, from teenagers to the elderly, and they can take day or night classes in North Adams, Adams and Williamstown. The classes are funded by the Massachusetts Department of Education.
According to Terry Miller, director of the MCLA Learning Services Center, 120 students enrolled this past year. Although the majority of students did not attend the ceremony, many were able to pick up their certificates in front of a crowd that included state Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, who graduated from MCLA — then known as North Adams State College — in 1976.
Bosley, who is in his 12th and final term as representative of the First Berkshire District, is running for Berkshire County Sheriff, which made Thursday night's celebration a bittersweet affair for the North Adams native.
"Everything I'm doing is the last time I'm doing them as a state rep, so this is my last graduating class," he said. "I enjoy these because these people have
 State Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, center, poses with Thursday's student speakers: from left, Tais Keels, Rina Choquette, Christopher Burke and Leo Marable. Not pictured, but who later spoke at the ceremony, is Mark Parris. |
"There's a lot of stuff I won't miss [about being a state rep], but I'll miss this."
The student speakers each had a different story, their own motivating factors which led them back to the classroom. Leo Marable went back to set a precedent for his son.
"I wanted to be the best parent I could be," he said. "I can teach my son to keep his head into books and how to be respectful to teachers and other people."
Rina Choquette battled learning disabilities in order to gain the skills needed to start a new career.
"Being in this program has been the best thing I've ever done," said Choquette, who hadn't been in a classroom in more than 30 years before enrolling at NBABE.
Keels originally grew up in Connecticut, then moved to Savoy and received home schooling. She had trouble receiving a high school diploma because of her home-school status, which prompted her to pursue a GED.
In the fall, she'll attend Berkshire Community College to study criminal justice. Her long-term goal is to become a homicide detective.
"I've had some family members who have been victims to crimes, and I feel like someone needs to stand up for the law," she said.
