Two Berkshire College Students Honored By Governor

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Photos courtesy of the governor's office.
Karla Pauta, above, and Amanda Ok were honored at the State House on Thursday for their student leadership and academic success.
BOSTON, Mass. — Two Berkshire college students were honored by Gov. Deval Patrick at the State House on Thursday for their academic success, student leadership and community service.

Pittsfield native Karla Pauta, now studying at Berkshire Community College, and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts student Amanda Ok, originally from Ayer, were chosen for the annual 29 Who Shine award.

Staff at each of the state's 29 schools — one from each of the state's community college and university.

Pauta, a liberal arts major with a concentration in biological sciences, came to Pittsfield as a young teenager from Ecuador and graduated Pittsfield High School in 2008. She then went on the BCC, where she is an honors student with a 3.5 grade-point average.

Outside of the classroom, Pauta is a member of the Student Government Association, the Multicultural Student Service Organization, student representative of BCC's presidential search committee and participates in the annual cancer walk.


Pauta plans to transfer to a four-year college and pursue a career in biotechnology. Her hope is to ultimately go to medical school and become a pediatrician.

Ok, a biology major, has maintained excellent grades while working her way through college on her own. Ok has been working as a pharmacy technician and is hoping to pursue a career in medicine.

Ok has been financially on her own since age 17 and has lived off campus while going to MCLA. On the side she is a disc jockey at the college radio station. She plans to move to Boston after graduation and apply for a master's program to study acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.

"Amanda and Karla's story reminds us all of the power of education to transform lives," Patrick said of the two. "Investing in them is exactly how we invent a brighter future for Massachusetts."

Tags: awards,   community college,   MCLA,   

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Multiple Departments Respond to Lanesborough Structure Fire

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Multiple fire departments responded to a structure fire off Narragansett Avenue on Wednesday afternoon. 

The Fire Department received a call from the owner of 6 Bangor St. reporting smoke and flames at around 1:44 p.m.

Firefighters arriving on scene reported heavy smoke emanating from the 1940s single-family ranch home in the thickly settled neighborhood.

The blaze was brought under control in less than an hour and there were no civilian or firefighter injuries. 

"The homeowner was outside doing some work, evidently, opened the door when she came back in the house, and there were flames and smoke, so she backed out and called us, and that's all we know right now," Deputy Fire Chief Glen Storie said around 2:35 p.m. 

The fire was out at that time, and first responders observed "quite a bit of damage" to the home. The cause is still under investigation. 

Lanesborough, Cheshire, and Pittsfield departments responded to the scene, and Hancock covered the station during the call. 

"The first crew in knocked the fire right down with the first engine," Storie said. 

Smoke could be seen coming from the back of the home. Part of Narragansett Avenue and Bangor Avenue were blocked off while firefighters battled the blaze. 

 

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