BCC Student Cited Among State's '29 Who Shine'
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| Myla Franklin |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College student Myla Franklin has earned two academic awards including being named one of the 2014 "29 Who Shine" as well as a member of the All-Massachusetts Academic Team.
Presented by the state Department of Higher Education, "29 Who Shine" recognizes outstanding students representing each of the 29 public campuses. The honorees, chosen because of their academic achievements and record of student leadership and community service, stand poised to contribute greatly to the civic life and economic well-being of the state.
"I am proud to kick off the 2014 commencement season by recognizing the '29 Who Shine,' an outstanding, hard-working group of community college, state university and UMass graduates," said Gov. Deval Patrick. "Myla Franklin of Berkshire Community College typifies this group, having committed so much time and energy to helping her community and fellow students while excelling academically. Myla is the latest example of a community college student who has proven to be a great asset to the commonwealth."
Prior to enrolling at BCC, Franklin worked for nearly 20 years at Kolburne School before it closed in 2012. Franklin then realized she needed to continue her education if she was to gain a similar position in the community.
A full-time student with a 3.92 GPA, Franklin, a resident of Pittsfield, is a wife and mother of three. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society (PTK), is involved with TRIO, and is treasurer for the Student Government Organization.
A dedicated community volunteer, she has worked with a number of local organizations including the St. Joseph's Food Pantry and the Food Therapy Program (a program for autistic children), among others. In addition, she and her husband founded a mentoring program, On the Rise, which works with students between the ages of 14 and 17 both locally and in the Albany, N.Y., area.
The "29 Who Shine" awards ceremony, held at the State House, celebrates the student honorees as well as a faculty or staff member whom each of them believe had the greatest impact on their college education and experience. Franklin selected Deborah Carderella, an administrative assistant with BCC's Humanities Division, for helping her to acclimate to a college setting after being out of school for 20 years and for connecting her with campus resources.
Franklin also attended a recognition ceremony in Boston for the All-Massachusetts Academic Team on April 24. PTK, community college presidents and community college state associations co-sponsor the All-State Academic Team. Nominations are based on outstanding academic performance and service to the college and community.
"I am honored to be recognized for my hard work. I'm so grateful for these awards and the experiences I've had at BCC," said Franklin.
She will graduate from BCC later this month and plans to continue her education. She is currently evaluating acceptances from numerous institutions and will finalize her decision in the coming weeks.
Tags: academic award, BCC,
