Berkshire Community College Selects Co-Valedictorians
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| Amanda Garceau | Lucas Yannis-Kowalczyk |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Amanda Garceau and Lucas Yannis-Kowalczyk have been selected as Berkshire Community College's co-valedictorians and will each provide remarks at the commencement ceremony to be held Friday, June 3, at Tanglewood in Lenox.
Garceau, 32, resides in Dalton. A health fitness major at BCC, Garceau will be attending Smith College in Amherst in the fall and plans to major in education and minor in movement and exercise studies. She plans a career in lifestyle and weight management and teaching health and fitness classes at the college level.
“I have learned there is nothing I cannot achieve, and I hope to share that freedom with those around me,” said Garceau. “When someone tells you something is out of your reach, use that as motivation to reach beyond even your own dreams. For the only restriction on your success is your own inhibition.”
Garceau was selected by a committee comprised of faculty and administrators for her impressive academic abilities, including a 3.97 grade-point average, as well as her work on campus. She is the outgoing president of the Student Government Association and has worked with the local Relay for Life cancer-walk initiative and, as a cancer survivor herself, has twice been the survivorship chairman for the All-college Relay for Life team.
“We’ve all been inspired by watching Amanda go from gaining confidence in her own potential to building support for her classmates’ potential,” said Frances Feinerman, dean of academic affairs and chairman of the selection committee. “She had become an articulate and effective advocate for community college education. Speaking up takes guts. She has that and she chooses to use her gumption in ways that benefit all of us.”
Yannis-Kowalczyk, 25, is a native of Silesia, Poland, and resides in Lee. A liberal arts major at BCC, Yannis-Kowalczyk will be attending Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. While attending BCC, he conducted two research studies, one in forensic psychology and one in behavioral endocrinology. He plans to continue his research in forensic psychology as well as studying international trade and economy. Looking toward the future, he plans to pursue a doctorate and become an adviser or consultant as a way to influence our current policies in economy, human resources, and labor.
“My selection as co-valedictorian is a tribute to all the amazing professors at BCC who encouraged me to excel, and who were willing to share their wisdom and time so generously,” said Yannis-Kowalczyk, who has earned a 4.0 GPA while at BCC.
In addition to his academics, Yannis-Kowalczyk has volunteered with Western Mass Labor Action, Salvation Army and Volunteers in Medicine. During his time at BCC, he was involved in the Honors Program Advisory Board and a contributor to the Zine, a student literary magazine.
Feinerman said, “Lucas has enriched every class he’s been in. His excitement about learning is contagious. His excitement about learning in the United States reminds us how lucky we are to be here. Our interview with him reminded us why we do what we do here at BCC.”
The 2011 commencement exercises will begin at 4:30 p.m.
Tags: valedictorian,
