Berkshire Community College Holding Virtual Commencement

11:01AM / Monday, May 18, 2020Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College will hold its 60th commencement ceremony on Friday, May 29, via broadcast on Pittsfield Community Television at 4:30 p.m.

During the ceremony, the college will award associate degrees and certificates to more than 200 students.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced schools and colleges around the world to rethink their graduation ceremonies. As such, institutions are finding ways to celebrate and honor their graduates – and BCC has decided to honor its graduates twice.

The virtual commencement will be broadcast on PCTV, on the PCTV Select app available on Roku and Apple TV, and on Facebook Live via PCTV. The broadcast also will be simulcast on Northern Berkshire Community Television and Community Television for the Southern Berkshires.

The 2020 graduates are also invited to participate in the 2021 commencement ceremony on June 4, 2021, at Tanglewood in Lenox.

In a letter to all graduates, wrote: "

"We know this is not what any of us anticipated celebrating the 60th Commencement of Berkshire Community College," President Ellen Kennedy wrote to graduates. "Each of us wants to make this event meaningful, and though we would prefer to be physically together, our goal is to ensure that you are recognized and honored with pride and joy by our entire community on commencement day.

"We promise to make this special for you, and look forward to celebrating you both virtually on May 29, and physically next year.”

Graduates were asked to upload their photo that will be shown live on television when their name is read during the commencement program. There will also be remarks from the Kennnedy, from the college's valedictorian and provost, and the national anthem will be sung by a Monica Bliss, a BCC student.

The commencement program will be shared with all graduates the day before the ceremony and also mailed to their homes as a keepsake. Diplomas will also be delivered to the graduates via mail.

For more commencement details visit: www.berkshirecc.edu/commencement. Social media users are invited to be a part of the conversation by using #MyBCCGrads.

Tags: BCC, commencement, graduation 2020,

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Workforce Development: Kaela Martin

03:55PM / Thursday, January 08, 2026

Before Kaela Martin completed the Front Line Advanced Supervisor course at Berkshire Community College, she had already made smart career choices. She had landed a job as a welder fabricator at Lenco, an armored vehicle manufacturer in Pittsfield, in 2023 and was proving herself to be a valuable employee. But Kaela isn't the type of person to sit still and let her career path determine itself — or, worse, become stagnant.

"I started kind of accidentally working my way up at Lenco, just my helping my crew chief and taking on extra responsibilities. They saw potential and wanted to develop that. They wanted to give me the tools to do my job properly," Kaela said.

Lenco arranged for her to take the course at BCC, and she began working half of her time in the office and half on the shop floor.

"It was very unique position. I think it's a superpower, in a way," Kaela said. "I have respect on the team because they know I'm a fabricator and they know I understand their world, and now I also understand this world. It's helpful being able to bring the two together."

Because Kaela is always looking for ways to improve, the BCC course seemed to be a logical fit. It took a year to complete the rigorous course, which was held every Tuesday for 4-6 hours and totaled more than 150 hours. While taking the course, Kaela maintained her full-time schedule at Lenco, and those hours counted towards the technical hours required for the class. Upon completion, Kaela earned a certificate of apprenticeship and a certificate of Lean Manufacturing.

Kaela concedes that the course was challenging, but the rewards are worth it. After all, she is no stranger to hard work.

Born and raised in Sheffield, where she still lives with her family, Kaela has been around trades her whole life. She learned the value of trades from her father, who was an electrician.

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