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The chapel at Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y.

College Notes: Summer & Fall 2020

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The O'Connor Center for Community Engagement at the State University of New York at Delhi has recognized more 30 students for their outstanding commitment to community service. Among them is Samuel Polastri of Becket, who was named a Community Service Leader for the 2019-2020 school year. Community Service Leaders are students who have accrued anywhere from 100 to 400 or more hours of volunteer work during the year. 
 
 
Jacob Hane of Williamstown has been selected as a tutor in the Oral Communication Center at Hamilton College for the 2020-21 academic year. Hane, a junior majoring in classical languages, is a graduate of Mount Greylock Regional School.
 
The center's mission is to support the Clinton, N.Y., college's educational goals by developing students' abilities to express themselves with clarity and eloquence. Among its services, it offers tutoring to students working on specific oral communication projects or general communication concerns.
 
Riley Nichols of Pittsfield has been selected as an education programs assistant this semester for Hamilton College's Ruth and Elmer Wellin Museum of Art in Clinton, N.Y. Nichols, a senior majoring in philosophy, is a graduate of Pittsfield High School.
 
Neha Goel of Pownal, Vt., was recently initiated into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Goel was initiated at The Sage Colleges in Troy N.Y.
 
 
Jaylin Lacasse of Pittsfield, was elected as senator of the class of 2024 during the 2020-21 academic year at Assumption University in Worcester. The Student Government Association represents full-time undergraduate students.
 
Kathryn J. Wells of Windsor has been awarded the Outstanding Student in Marketing Communication/Advertising Award by Western New England University's College of Business in Springfield.
 
 
Justin Makuc of Monterey, a political science major, has received the 2020 Caren G. Dubnoff Political Science Award from College of the Holy Cross in Worcester. The award is given to a fourth-year political science major for outstanding academic achievement.
 
 
Riley Nichols of Pittsfield was named the recipient of the Matthew Houlihan Prize Scholarship at Hamilton College's annual convocation ceremony on Aug. 23. Nichols, a senior majoring in philosophy, is a graduate of Pittsfield High School.
 
The scholarship, made possible by an annual gift from the Matthew Houlihan Foundation, was established in 2002 in memory of Houlihan, class of 2003 at the Clinton, N.Y., college. It is awarded to a rising senior who demonstrates solid academic achievement (minimum 3.0 GPA), strong extracurricular involvement, a loyal commitment to classmates, exemplary school citizenship, and unselfish devotion to Hamilton.
 
Nichols also was recently elected to the Epsilon Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest and most prestigious honor society in the country.
 
 
Samuel Dils of Williamstown has been chosen to be a Nesbitt-Johnston Writing Center tutor at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., for the 2020-21 academic year.
 
The Writing Center was established in 1987 to help all Hamilton students strengthen their writing abilities. Nominated by faculty members, those chosen as tutors must demonstrate strong writing skills and relate well to their peers. They are considered to be among the best students at Hamilton. In a typical year, Writing Center tutors conduct 3,000 conferences. Dils, a junior majoring in literature, is a graduate of Mount Greylock Regional High School.
 
 
Cormac Duffy is a new student this fall at Lasell University in Newton. Duffy, a resident of Pittsfield, will study sport management. More than 370 new students joined the Lasell community in September for the fall semester. New and returning students were given a choice to study in residential, commuter, or fully online settings to accommodate their preferences during the pandemic.
 
The class of 2024 welcomed to Nichols College in Dudley includes local students Alyssa Blanchard of Adams, Madeleine Soudant of Great Barrington, Taylor Cornell of North Adams, and Matthew Wick of Pittsfield.
 
Xavier Vilaubi of Williamstown recently matriculated as a first-year student at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y. Vilaubi, a graduate of Mount Greylock Regional School, was selected from a pool of 7,443 applicants to the college, and joins a class of 470.
 
Kyle Brogan of Dalton, a graduate of Wahconah Regional High School, is one of more than 950 students who began their college careers at the State University of New York at Delhi in August. Brogan is pursuing a degree in mechatronics design.
 
 
St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., has welcomed the following local students into the class of 2024: Ella Korte of West Stockbridge and Octavia Crowell, Jeffrey Merselis and Mary Shine, all of Williamstown.
 
 
More than 1,150 first-time and transfer students enrolled at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic for the fall 2020 semester. Among them is Jenna Levesque of Cheshire, a full-time freshman who is majoring in environmental earth science.
 
 
Isabelle Bote of Williamstown is serving as an emergency medical technician at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., this year.
 
The Hamilton College Emergency Medical Service is a New York State-certified agency that is made up of 24 student EMTs who provide 24-hour emergency service to the campus community during the academic year. Each  student volunteers 30-40 hours a week. On average, the EMTs respond to 50-60 medical emergencies on campus each semester. Bote, a junior majoring in art history, is a graduate of Mount Greylock Regional High School.
 
 
Justin Makuc of Monterey, majoring in political science, has earned a national award for contributions to the College of the Holy Cross' Alexander Hamilton Society. The society is a non-profit, non-partisan student organization committed to principled U.S. leadership in global affairs and educating upcoming leaders about America's role in the world.
 
Alexander Hamilton Society is the only foreign policy-based club on the Worcester college's campus. As part of a national organization, the club hosts events that bring high-profile speakers to campus, including top government officials and scholars who discuss foreign policy and national security issues.
 
Bard Academy at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington welcomed a new class of 25 students this fall to the nation's first two-year high school, preparing them for college after the 10th grade. Among them are local residents Nathan Baran of Cheshire and Lucy Coleman, Zoe Fernbacher and Allesandro Vinai, all of Great Barrington.
 
Jonah Rosario of Monterey and Angele McCleery and Hannah Wheeler, both of Pittsfield, are among the 103 who entered the fall semester at Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington. 
 
Alexander White of Dalton, studying physics at the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, is receiving two financial scholarships, Chancellor Scholars and Warhawk Exceptional Academics, for the 2020-21 academic year.
 

Graduations

Charles Sutter of Windsor earned his juris doctor in law this past spring from Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.H. Sutter attended Mount Greylock Regional School in Williamstown and graduated magna cum laude from Drew University in Madison, N.J., with a bachelor's degree in political science. 

Three local residents recently graduated from Emerson College in Boston: Corey Potter of Housatonic, in December 2019, received a bachelor's degree in theater studies, acting; and, in May, Stanton Pearson of Dalton received a bachelor of fine arts in design/technology and Joseph Mcninch of Lenox recieved a BFA in theater and performance.

Western New England University in Springfield awarded degrees to 142 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students from 19 states and four countries this August. Among them were Pittsfield residents:  Joshua Bradley, who earned a doctor of pharmacy, and Kyle Betters, who earned a master of education in curriculum and instruction elementary track.
 
 
The following students have graduated from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, this spring: Grace Smith, Sophie Gerry and Benni Magnusson McComish, all of Williamstown, and Grace Ellrodt of Lenox.
 
Smith, daughter of Samuel W. Smith Jr. and Brenda S. Smith of Williamstown, is a 2016 graduate of Mount Greylock Regional School and majored in art and visual culture. She was inducted into the Bates Scholar-Athlete Society, an organization that honors graduating seniors who have achieved a grade-point average of 3.5 or have received special nomination from the faculty for outstanding academic achievement in their junior and senior years, and who have participated in a varsity sport for a minimum of three years.
 
Ellrodt graduated summa cum laude after majoring in environmental studies and minoring in philosophy. The daughter of Anthony G. Ellrodt and Marianne S. Ellrodt of Lenox, she  is a 2016 graduate of Lenox Memorial High School. In her first year at Bates, she received the Charles Dana Award, the highest honor Bates bestows on students in their first year. Ellrodt graduates as a member of the College Key, an honor reserved for students who have exhibited outstanding character, academic excellence, campus and community service, leadership and future promise, and of Phi Beta Kappa, an organization recognized as conferring the highest undergraduate academic honors and as the oldest Greek letter society in the US.
 
Gerry graduated magna cum laude after majoring in art and visual culture. The daughter of John P. Gerry and Laura H. Schoenbaum of Williamstown, she is a 2016 graduate of Mount Greylock Regional School. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, an organization recognized as conferring the highest undergraduate academic honors and as the oldest Greek letter society in the US.
 
McComish graduated after majoring in religious studies and history. The son of Magnus T. Bernhardsson and Margaret A. McComish of Williamstown, he is a 2016 graduate of Mount Greylock Regional School.
 
 
Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology conferred the following degrees during virtual celebration held May 8:
 
  • Paige Harrington of Dalton, master of science in environmental, health and safety management.
  • Lana Grygier of Lenox, bachelor of fine arts in 3D digital design
  • Shawndell Cummings of Pittsfield, bachelor of science in criminal justice
  • Jason Konowitch of Pittsfield, bachelor of science in microelectronic engineering
  • Alexander Stevens of Pittsfield, bachelor of science in game design and development
  • Juri Kiin of West Stockbridge, bachelor of science in game design and development

 

Andrew Beaudoin of Dalton earned a bachelor of science in business administration degree, cum laude, in finance from Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I.
 
The following local residents were among the students who received their degrees in May as part of the Class of 2020 at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I.
  • Ericca Broderick of Great Barrington, graduated with a bachelor of arts in elementary education
  • Nicholas Jamrog of Dalton graduated with a master of science in criminal justice
  • Nicole Speranzo of Pittsfield graduated with a master of business administration
Sophia Horan was among the members of the class of 2020 who were honored in a virtual ceremony on May 17 for the 199th commencement of Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y. Horan also graduated from Monument Mountain Regional High School in Great Barrington.
 
Mackenzie Rougeau of Adams and Katelyn Clark and Scott O'Brien, both of Pittsfield, have graduated from Stonehill College in Easton. The college's 69th commencement, which took place virtually on Saturday, Aug. 8.
 
 
Kalie Garwood of Pittsfield and Holly Fisher of Williamstown were among 465 awarded bachelor degrees by St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., in May. A commencement ceremony is planned for August 2021.
 
 

Academic Lists & Awards

 
Western New England University in Springfield has released the names of students named to the president's list and to the dean's list for the spring 2020 semester:
 
President's list:
  • Jacqueline Lemaire of Adams, sport management
  • Laura Netti of Clarksburg, pursuing a doctor of pharmacy
  • Michael Skidmore of Dalton, electrical engineering
  • Taylor Callahan of Lanesborough, psychology
  • William Carroll of Lenox, mechanical engineering
  • Aubrey Rumbolt of North Adams, secondary education/math science
  • Aimee Dowling of Stamford, Vt., biomedical engineering
  • Kathryn Wells of Windsor, marketing communication/advertising
  • Aleceea Ahearn of Pittsfield, health sciences
  • Connor Bryant of Pittsfield, computer science
  • Alexandra Desrochers of Pittsfield, criminal justice
  • Katara Mullett of Pittsfield, accounting
  • Brandon Peaslee of Pittsfield, management & leadership
 
Dean's list:
  • Amber Smith of Becket, computer science
  • Caitlin Tatro of Clarksburg, biomedical engineering
  • Pukhraj Mann of Dalton, industrial engineering
  • Daniel Buell of Hancock, mechanical engineering
  • Joseph Aberdale of Housatonic, mechanical engineering
  • John Young of Housatonic, mechanical engineering
  • Evan Sheridan of Lanesborough, arts & sciences
  • Emily Andreatta of North Adams, psychology
  • Abby Jamros of North Adams, accounting
  • Jillian Cote of Pittsfield, pharmacy studies
  • Shane Cronin of Pittsfield, arts & entertainment management
  • Brittany Henault of Pittsfield, pharmacy studies
  • Tyler Shepard of Pittsfield, management & leadership
  • Dylan Brownson of South Egremont, business
  • Bailey Prescott of Washington, management & leadership
  • William Reynolds of Williamstown, mechanical engineering
Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I., has named sophomore Anastasia Wachter of Pittsfield to the president's list for the spring 2020 semester and 2020 graduate Andrew Beaudoin of Dalton and junior Lindsey Coe, junior, of Pittsfield to the dean's list.
 
Amaya Smith of Williamstown, a junior, was named to the spring 2020 head of school scholar honors list at Pomfret (Conn.) School. 
 
 
Dustin Jaenecke of Pownal, Vt., who is majoring in computer and information systems, was named to the trustees' list at Champlain College in Burlington, Vt., for the spring 2020 semester for achieving a grade-point average of 4.0 for two more semesters.
 
Champlain College also named the following to the dean's list for spring semester: Andrew Kerwood of Pittsfield, game design; Jayme McGuigan of Pittsfield, marketing; Walker Niemeyer of Williamstown, early childhood/elementary education; and Mary Nourse of Great Barrington, filmmaking.
 
 
Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore has named Sarah Hunt and Maeve Shine, both of Williamstown, to the dean's list for the spring 2020 semester. 
 
The following students have been named to the dean's list at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, for the fall semester ending in December 2019 and the winter semester ending in April 2020. Though we have been delayed in sharing this news due to our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please know that our pride in our students who reached this high level of academic achievement is as strong as ever. 
 
Grace Ellrodt, a 2016 graduate of Lenox Memorial High School. Ellrodt, the child of Anthony G. Ellrodt and Marianne S. Ellrodt of Lenox, is a senior majoring in environmental studies and minoring in philosophy.
 
• Sophie Gerry, a 2016 graduate of Mount Greylock Regional School. Gerry, the child of John P. Gerry and Laura H. Schoenbaum of Williamstown, is a senior majoring in art and visual culture.
 
• Grace Smith, a 2016 graduate of Mount Greylock Regional School. Smith, the child of Samuel W. Smith Jr. and Brenda S. Smith of Williamstown, is a senior majoring in art and visual culture.
 
• Noah Pott, a 2018 graduate of Great Barrington Waldorf High School. Pott, the child of David A. Pott and Alix E. von Auenmueller of Great Barrington, is a sophomore majoring in theater and music.
 
• Earning dean's list for the winter semester: Benni Magnusson McComish, a 2016 graduate of Mount Greylock Regional School. McComish, the child of Magnus T. Bernhardsson and Margaret A. McComish of Williamstown, is majoring in religious studies and history.
 
 
Natalie Celebi of Pittsfield has been named to Purchase College's dean's list for the spring 2020 semester. Celebi is studying theater and performance at the State University of New York at Purchase.
 
Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., has named the following local students to the dean's list for the 2020 spring semester and for achieving the list for both terms:
  • Steven Crouch of Adams, a rising senior majoring in mathematics.
  • Hannah Weeks of Pittsfield, a rising senior majoring in Spanish and Hispanic Studies.
  • William Sohl of Pittsfield, a rising junior majoring in political science.
  • Adam Hall of Williamstown, a rising senior majoring in mechanical engineering.
  • Sofia Lopez of Williamstown, a graduate majoring in political science and Spanish & Hispanic Studies.
 
Miles Marshall of Pittsfield, a junior, and Toby Ellingwood of Williamstown, a first-year, have been named to the 2019-2020 dean's list at Colorado College in Colorado Springs. 
 
Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I., has named the following students to the spring 2020 dean's list: Jamie Barthe, Ellie Field and Sierra Jamros, all of Adams; Autumn Sheldon and Emma Smith, both of Dalton; Morgan Pannesco of Lanesborough, and Ana Boorady-Bloom of West Stockbridge.
 
Holly S. Fisher, who graduated this year with a degree in anthropology, was named to the dean's list for the spring semester at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y. Fisher attended Mount Greylock Regional School.
 
Gianna Auriemma of Lanesborough, majoring in animal science, was named to the dean's list for the spring 2020 semester at State University of New York in Morrisville
 
Sophia Horan of Great Barrington, an environmental economics and a graduate of Monument Mountain Regional High School, has been named to the Dean's list for the spring 2020 semester at Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y. 
 
DiMaggio Paris of Lanesborough has been named a Presidential Scholar at Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y. Paris is a junior majoring in computer science and mathematics, was named a Presidential Scholar.
 
Noah Payne of Pownal, Vt., a freshman majoring in chemistry, has been named to the dean's list at Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y. 
 
Lily Kronick of Cheshire has been named to the Elmira (N.Y.) College dean's list for the fall 2020 term.
 
Michaela Larkin of Cheshire, Katie Bachli and Troy Brainerd, bot of Dalton, and Daniel Bronson of New Ashford have been named to the president's list at Plymouth State University for the fall semester.
 
The University of Vermont in Burlington has named Isabelle Lapierre of Dalton, Bom Bee Lahart of Lenox and Owen Brandriss of Williamstown to the dean's list for the fall 2020 semester.
 
Lynn Clancy of Pittsfield has earned a spot on the summer 2020 dean's list at Goodwin University in East Hartford, Conn. 
 

 


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Clarksburg Gets 3 Years of Free Cash Certified

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Town officials have heaved a sigh of relief with the state's certification of free cash for the first time in more than three years.
 
The town's parade of employees through its financial offices the past few years put it behind on closing out its fiscal years between 2021 and 2023. A new treasurer and two part-time accountants have been working the past year in closing the books and filing with the state.
 
The result is the town will have $571,000 in free cash on hand as it begins budget deliberations. However, town meeting last year voted that any free cash be used to replenish the stabilization account
 
Some $231,000 in stabilization was used last year to reduce the tax rate — draining the account. The town's had minimal reserves for the past nine months.
 
Chairman Robert Norcross said he didn't want residents to think the town was suddenly flush with cash. 
 
"We have to keep in mind that we have no money in the stabilization fund and we now have a free cash, so we have now got to replenish that account," he said. "So it's not like we have this money to spend ... most of it will go into the stabilization fund." 
 
The account's been hit several times over the past few fiscal years in place of free cash, which has normally been used for capital spending, to offset the budget and to refill stabilization. Free cash was last used in fiscal 2020.
 
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