NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — McCann Technical School senior Emily Belanger received a Travers Tool High School Senior Level Annual Tooling Scholarship for her chess set project.
Belanger, an advanced manufacturing technology student from North Adams, will receive $500 worth of tools useful for students pursuing careers in manufacturing.
"It has always been my dream to pursue manufacturing. Machining parts and designing is like a sixth sense, everything comes to me with ease," she wrote in a personal essay included with her application. "Being able to make a part within a thousandths of tolerance makes me feel like I did my job right, and that I have a true gift."
According to a project description, Belanger designed each individual chess piece and machined each piece from aluminum or brass.
She engraved or created pockets on each piece as needed on the mill and gave each piece a smooth finish to allow safe handling and gameplay.
"We created programs using the lathe to create certain arcs and diameters to change the size of the original stock," Belanger wrote. "If the parts needed additional work done to them (engravings, pockets, etc) we would then take it to the mill machine and create it there. It was one of the most fun projects I’ve ever made."
Scholarships are awarded to one underclass high school student, one high school senior class student, and one college student in the United States or Canada.
These tool scholarships are designed to lessen the financial burden students face and allow them to join the ranks of skilled machinists, CNC operators, welders, and exacting craftsmen that make up the fabric of the manufacturing industry.
Travers is a metalworking and industrial supply superstore located in Flushing, N.Y. It has distribution centers in South Carolina and California.
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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.
In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.
Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear.
The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.
"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."
Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.
In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.
The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.
"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.
The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.
In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.
"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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