Miss Hall’s Students Named Pickett Scholars

Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Miss Hall’s School seniors Emma Bullock, of North Bennington, Vt., and Ifunanya Okeke, of Hillside, N.J., have been named by the Lenox School Alumni Association as recipients of this year’s Mansfield Pickett Scholarships.

The awards are named in memory of Mansfield E. (Peter) Pickett, who was a longtime teacher both at the former Lenox School and at Miss Hall's School. The scholarships are given to two seniors who exhibit outstanding performance in academics and extracurricular activities. This is the twelfth year the association has honored Miss Hall’s students.

Paul Denzel, Edward A. Miller, Jr., and Robert J. Sansone, all representatives of the Lenox School Alumni Association, recently presented the awards to Emma and Nanya, both of whom are active students in the MHS community.

Emma, the daughter of Heather and John Bullock, is a proctor, president of the Debate Club, head of the Fencing Club, Senior Class secretary, and co-head of Grace Notes, the school’s a cappella singing group. Additionally, she plays the violin, is Quiz Team captain of the School’s Science Bowl Team, performs with the MHS Theater Ensemble, and is co-captain of the cross-country team. Emma will attend Haverford College in the fall.



Nanya, the daughter of Innocent and Tosshona Okeke, is an admission ambassador, big sister, proctor, and science peer tutor. As a junior, she was co-head of the Athletic Association and a member of Student Council. Nanya is co-head of the Step Club and a captain of the varsity basketball and varsity volleyball teams. She was three times named a league all-star in basketball and twice in volleyball. Nanya will attend Temple University in the fall.

Pickett, who died in 1996, was beloved by students and faculty alike. The father of Tabitha Pickett Vahle, MHS Class of 1978, and grandfather of Wendy Panchy, MHS Class of 1985, Mr. Pickett taught Latin and English at Miss Hall’s from 1973 — when the Lenox School closed — to 1992. He also served as MHS Director of Development from 1973 to 1975.

The Lenox School Alumni Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the spirit and camaraderie of Lenox School, which was an independent, all-boy secondary school founded in 1926. The school operated on the grounds of what is today the home of Shakespeare & Company.

 


Tags: scholarships,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

North Street Parking Study Favors Parallel Parking

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A parking study of North Street will be presented at Tuesday's City Council meeting. The design maintains parallel parking while expanding pedestrian zones and adding protected bike lanes.

The city, by request, has studied parking and bike lane opportunities for North Street and come up with the proposal staged for implementation next year. 

While the request was to evaluate angle parking configurations, it was determined that it would present too many trade-offs such as impacts on emergency services, bike lanes, and pedestrian spaces.

"The commissioner has been working with Downtown Pittsfield Inc. and my office to come up with this plan," Mayor Peter Marchetti said during his biweekly television show "One Pittsfield."

"We will probably take this plan on the road to have many public input sessions and hopefully break ground sometime in the summer of 2025."

Working with Kittleson & Associates, the city evaluated existing typical sections, potential parking
configurations, and a review of parking standards. It compared front-in and back-in angle parking and explored parking-space count alterations, emergency routing, and alternate routes for passing through traffic within the framework of current infrastructure constraints.

The chosen option is said to align with the commitment to safety, inclusivity, and aesthetic appeal and offer a solution that enhances the streetscape for pedestrians, businesses, cyclists, and drivers without compromising the functionality of the corridor.

"The potential for increasing parking space is considerable; however, the implications on safety and the overall streetscape call for a balanced approach," Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities Ricardo Morales wrote.

Bike lanes and parking have been a hot topic over the last few years since North Street was redesigned.

In September 2020, the city received around $239,000 in a state Shared Streets and Spaces grant to support new bike lanes, curb extensions, vehicle lane reductions, and outdoor seating areas, and enhanced intersections for better pedestrian safety and comfort.

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories