Hoosac Valley High School Scholarships & Awards Class of 2011

Adams Council Knights of Columbus 230 Scholarship: Hannah Kittler

Adams High School Class of 1946 Scholarship: Gregory Bosworth

Adams Lions Club Scholarships: Dylan Alibozek, Hannah Kittler, Nathan Pitoniak

Adams Lodge of Elks BPOE 1335-Dominic Yuliano Scholarships: Dennis Dermody & John Murray

W.T. Adams Fund Scholarships: Rachel Butler, Michael Davis, Amy Dubuc

Elsie C. & Robert T. Arnold Scholarships: Dennis Dermody & Kailey Pero

Mildred H. & John G. Arnold Memorial Scholarships: Cierra Andrews & John Murray

Joan Bejgrowicz Memorial Scholarship: Kailey Pero

Richard F. Boulger Memorial Scholarships: Jason Jennings & Makayla Skubel

Bernard R. "Bucky" Bullett Scholarship: Andrew Harmon

Irene & Tom Chalmers Memorial Scholarship: Jay Krutiak

The Cheshire Garden Club Scholarship: Andrew Galisa

June M. Cole Fund for Continuing Education Scholarships: Kaitlyn Affhauser & Kathleen Nguyen

George Coope Memorial Scholarship: Hollye Caron

Frank N. Costa Public Service Award Scholarship: Cierra Andrews

Francis E. & Ann M. Couture Scholarship: Alexandra Hill

Tony Couture Memorial Scholarships: Alexandra Hill & Samantha Robinson

Ruth Brenner Crawford Memorial Scholarship: Ethan Harmon

Mary M. Czubryt Memorial Scholarship: Katelyn Charon

Wilfred "Pete" Deblois Notre Dame Scholarships: Nicholas Bourdon & John Bresett

Margaret R. Degere Memorial Scholarships: Nathan Alibozek, Cierra Andrews, Brandon Asher, Nicole Holland

Armenia C. Deguire Memorial Scholarship: John Bresett

Walter R. & Pearl Dynes Memorial Scholarship: Jason Jennings

Dr. Bernard V. Fallon Scholarship: Katelynn Iacuessa

FLAME (Fire Life And Medical Emergency) Scholarships: Nicholas Aitken, Bionca Barrett, Hailey Burke, Nicholas Burzimati, Anthony Cardeno, Patrice Dermody, Kaitlyn Goebel, Joshua Graywerth, Jay Krutiak, Zachary Larabee, Nathan Staffin, Emily Rodowicz

The Flower Gallery: Alexandra Hill

Joan Belini Gazaille Memorial: Nicholas Aitken

Frank H. Graham Memorial Scholarships: Samantha Howe & Collin Kline

Greylock Federal Credit Union Treat Everyone More Than They Expect Scholarship: Samantha Howe

Marge Gwozdz Memorial Scholarship: Katelyn Charon

John J. Grosz Memorial Scholarship: Alexander Hart

Walter & Velma Harrington Kruszyna Fund Scholarships: Andrew Harmon & Zachary Larabee

HVHS Class of 1976 Scholarships: Dennis Dermody, Alexandra Hill & Lindsey Tatro

HVHS Class of 1982 Scholarship: Amy Dubuc

HVHS Class of 1985 Scholarship: Amanda Meczywor

HVHS Art Club Scholarships: Brittany Gage, Sarah Mikutowicz

HVHS School Store Scholarship: Nicole Holland

Iacuessa-Jaworski Scholarship: Michael Rossi

Emilia Jajko Memorial Scholarship: Patton Linder

Keith A. Levesque Memorial Scholarship: Kelsey Alibozek

Maple Grove Civic Club Scholarships: Samantha Beckwith, Sarah Mikutowicz

Edward W. & Mary F. Martin Memorial Scholarships: Jessica Bailot, Patton Linder

Diana M. Morgan Memorial Scholarship: Kelsey Alibozek

Daniel H. Petithory Memorial Scholarships: Nicholas Bourdon, Brittany Gage, Mark Lindner, Nathan Staffin

Herbert & Betty Randall Scholarship: Karli Schrade

Helen Stokey Raschdorf Memorial Scholarship: Chantelle Gladu

Warren E. & Louise M. Robinson Memorial Scholarship: Nathan Czerwinski

Paul M. Roemelt Memorial Scholarship: Samantha Robinson

James L. Rowley Memorial Scholarship: Aaron Solari

Edmund R. St. John, Jr. Memorial Scholarship: Jessica Bailot

Agnes Skrocki Memorial Scholarship: Hannah Kittler

Henry Herbert Smythe Trust Fund Scholarships: Dylan Alibozek, Samantha Beckwith, Kaitlyn Brown, Hollye Caron, Brittany Gage, Michael Gancarz, Chantelle Gladu, Nicole Holland, Hannah Kittler, Collin Kline, Jeffrey Lincoln, Patton Linder, Sarah Mikutowicz, Adam Ouellette, Nathan Pitoniak, Bridget Tanguay, Lindsey Tatro

South Adams Savings Bank Scholarships: Ethan Harmon, Patton Linder, Amanda Meczywor

South Adams Savings Bank Trustee Scholarships: John I. Curtin: Dylan Alibozek Richard P. Ouellette: Jessica Bailot Donald L. & Eleanor LaFrance: Hannah Kittler Owen McAndrews: Samantha Robinson William J. McLaren: Emily Rodowicz

Specialty Minerals Inc.: Alexander Hart

Catherine Sutliff Memorial Scholarship: Russell Capeless

Hazel Tiedemann Charitable Trust Fund Scholarships: Nathan Alibozek, Bionca Barrett, Kaitlyn Brown, Hailey Burke, Stephen Davis, Patrice Dermody, Michael Gancarz, Chantelle Gladu, Joshua Graywerth, Katelynn Iacuessa, Collin Kline, Jeffrey Lincoln, Adam Ouellette

Tiedemann Family Fund Scholarships: Antonio Cardeno, Samantha Robinson, Emily Rodowicz

Thomas M. & Jeanette K. Uryniak Memorial Scholarship: Dylan Alibozek

James H. Urquhart Jr. Memorial Scholarship: Daniel Dermody

VFW Burnette-Bednarz Post 1995 Scholarships: ( Sterling S. Burnette & Walter J. Bednarz Memorial: Michael Gancarz Robert T. Goyette & John P. Hartlage III Memorial: Nicholas Aitken Russell R. Roulier Memorial: Karli Schrade

Betty Von Mosch Memorial Scholarship: Patton Linder

Edward P. Whalen Memorial Scholarship: Daniel Dermody

Eileen Brenner Willig Scholarship: Corbin Brassard

Jacob & Dora Wineberg Scholarships: Amanda Meczywor & Joshua Graywerth

Chester J. Zabek Memorial Scholarships: Taylar Gallup

Joshua P. Snyder Memorial Scholarship: Nicholas Aitken

Town of Adams Scholarships: Hollye Caron, Amanda Meczywor, Karli Schrade

Francis Walsh Memorial Scholarships: Andrew Harmon & Ethan Harmon

HVHS Class of 1987 Daniel Petithory Memorial Scholarships: Kaitlyn Affhauser, Hollye Caron, Jay Krutiak

Adams Outdoorsmen for Youth Scholarship: Hollye Caron

Frank Zoltek Memorial Scholarship: Samantha Robinson

Cheshire Lions Club Scholarships: Kaitlyn Affhauser, Jay Krutiak, Zachary Larabee

St. Stanislaus Home School Association Scholarship: Kailey Pero

John P. Breen Memorial Scholarship: Andrew Galisa

Richard M. Kleiner Memorial Scholarship: Zachary Larabee

Margaret Gentile Memorial Scholarship: Ethan Harmon

Polish National Alliance Scholarships: Hollye Caron, Katelyn Charon, Russell Capeless, Amy Dubuc, Taylar Gallup, Michael Gancarz, Alexandra Hill, Nicole Holland, Hannah Kittler, Amanda Meczywor, Sarah Mikutowicz, Kathleen Nguyen, Kailey Pero, Karli Schrade, Nathan Staffin

Adams High Class of 1969 Scholarships: Hollye Caron, Ethan Harmon

Daniel Patrick Lennon Memorial Scholarship: Ethan Harmon

Rosemarie Stachura Memorial Scholarship: Zachary Larabee

The Commander's Scholarship-North Adams American Legion Post 125: Karli Schrade

Massachusetts Elks Scholarship Inc.: Karli Schrade

State Street "T" Neighborhood Kids Scholarship: Karli Schrade

Dave Delmolino Memorial Scholarships: Nichols Aitken & Dennis Dermody

Adams Cheshire Teachers Association Scholarships: Nicholas Bourdon & Samantha Robinson

Hoosac Valley High School Student Council Scholarships: Kaitlyn Affhauser, Jessica Bailot, Samantha Beckwith, Nathan Czerwinski, Dennis Dermody, Amy Dubuc, Andrew Harmon, Ethan Harmon, Alexander Hart, Alexandra Hill, Jason Jennings, Hannah Kittler, Jay Krutiak, Kailey Pero, Samantha Robinson, Emily Rodowicz

William "Moose" Roberts Memorial Scholarship: Zachary Larabee

Carolyn T. Sacco Memorial Scholarship: Ethan Harmon

Frank R. Stiles American Legion Unit 125 of North Adams Anthony Sacco Scholarship: Karli Schrade

Berkshire County Youth Soccer League Scholarship: John Bresett

Adams Police Association Scholarship: Nathan Staffin

American Legion Post 125 of North Adams Auxiliary Scholarship: Karli Schrade

Adams Gebirgs-Verein Mountain Club Scholarship: Karli Schrade

CIAO of the Berkshires Soccer Hall of Fame Scholarships: Brandon Asher & Alexandra Hill

International Association of Firefighters Local 2647 Scholarship: Jessica Bailot

Edward S. Zelazo Memorial Scholarships: Jessica Bailot & Andrew Galisa

Michael O'Brien Memorial Award: Amy Dubuc

Valedictorian Award: Dylan Alibozek

Salutatorian Award: Jessica Bailot

Miller Book Awards: Dylan Alibozek, Jessica Bailot, Hannah Kittler

Class Officers Awards: President Samantha Robinson; Vice President Samantha Beckwith; Secretary Dennis Dermody; Treasurer Emily Rodowicz

Perfect Attendance Award: Jessica Bailot

Principal's Award: Samantha Robinson

DAR Good Citizen Award: Hannah Kittler

Urquhart Memorial Award: Daniel Dermody

Peter I. Zelazo Awards: Dennis Dermody & Ethan Harmon

Elfrieda A. Koch Memorial Literary Prize: Nicholas Aitken

HVHS Director's Award for Chorus: Patton Linder

HVHS Director's Award for Band: Gregory Bosworth

Thomas J. Oxton Memorial Award: Dennis Dermody

Military Service Recognition Award: Michael Zieba

Massachusetts Superintendents Award: Jessica Bailot

Joshua P. Snyder Heart and Soul Award: Dalton Martinelli

Presidential Academic Excellence Awards
MATH:
Advanced Placement Calculus: Patton Linder
Probability & Statistics: Ethan Harmon
Algebra IIC: Katherine Butler
CP Trigonometry: Kailey Pero

SCIENCE:
Physics: Sarah Mikutowicz
Chemistry II: Hannah Kittler

HISTORY:
Women's Studies: Nicholas Aitken & Chantelle Gladu
Psychology: Corinne Butler
AP Psychology: Taylar Gallup
Criminal Justice: Amanda Meczywor

New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction. 

 

Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.

 

Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.

 

"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."

 

The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.

 

"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.

 

She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.