NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Serena Bondini of Windsor was interested in a career in the medical field, but wasn't really interested in becoming a nurse or a medical assistant.  

 

A friend told her check out the possibilities in the McCann Technical School postsecondary program and she found something that fit the bill: dental assisting.

 

"Teeth were kind of calling my name," she laughed on Monday after graduating from the McCann program.

 

Bondini was among the 15 graduates presented with pins and diplomas in dental assisting, medical assisting, surgical technology and cosmetology. The ceremony was held on the side lawn under the McCann sign, where Lynn Pinnsoneault sang "The Star-Spangled Banner."

 

Superintendent James Brosnan thanked the family and friends who were there to support the graduates.

 

"You're not here tonight to see the awarding of pins and diplomas but you're here to be congratulated for the support that you gave your graduate all during the year. All of us understand how difficult and rigorous the program of study is, for all of the students who are to my right," he said. "They could not and they would not be able to do that without you at their side, your constant encouragement, your constant picking up of those other items that they normally would do, just to give them the time to study, the time to prepare, and the time to be successful."

 

School Committee Chairman Gary Rivers also brought congratulations for achieving another educational milestone in their careers.

 

"The last couple of years have been pretty difficult. Not only difficult for our students, but difficult for our instructors as well. But as we look back and we look at all of the issues that our graduates had to put up with," he said, adding that he had been to the "Heroes & Legends" exhibit at Kennedy Space Center and it described its heroes using "words like curious, inspired, passionate, discipline, competent and selfless."

 

"I would like you, the graduates, to take a moment and reflect on those adjectives that I just listed and see if any of those pertain to you. I cannot help but think that you all possess most of those adjectives or you wouldn't be sitting here this evening, eagerly awaiting to get pinned and receive your diplomas."

 

Assistant Principal Keith Daigneault introduced the students who won medals in the SkillUSA competitions and named the recipients of the two major awards. 

 

Marissa Rivard was presented the Jamie Sacchetti Drennan Memorial Scholarship, given annually to a student in the surgical technology program selected by the faculty who has an "excellent work ethic, fun-loving personality and being a team player." It was established by the Berkshire Orthopedic Associates in honor of Sacchetti Drennan, a 1981 graduate of the program who died in 2012.  

 

Breanna Shurtleff was awarded the Berkshire District Dental Assistant's Association Scholarship. It is offered to one student to assist in the costs of taking the Dental Assisting National Board examinations and the graduate is selected by program coordinator and the president of the association based on their "outstanding clinical performance and excellent attendance." 

 

Brosnan and Rivers presented the diplomas and the graduates were pinned by their respective program coordinators and instructors: Jocelyne Hancock for surgical technology, Pinsonneault for medical assisting, Kristi Mastroianni for cosmetology, and Michelle Racette for dental assisting.  

 

Afterward, the graduates were met with hugs, cheers and flowers. 

 

"I loved this program. I thought it was chock full of information. I had a great time. My professor was amazing. I had a really good time with all my classmates. It was really informative," Bondini said. "I didn't even know about it until I somebody told me and I looked online. And it was like the best year of my life. I wouldn't change anything."

 

She's weighing a few offers as she decides her next step. But Alana Justice Dubie, who graduated from the cosmetology program,  is already employed.

 

"I've been interested for quite a few years but I kind of wanted to wait until I think I was a little more settled into life and ready to like, work toward what I really wanted," the Stamford, Vt., resident, adding that the program was "great" and that she learned a lot.

 

 

Bronze Medal Winners

Kim Critelli, cosmetology

Breanna Shurtleff, dental assisting

Ashlyn Belisle, medical assisting

Silver Medal Winner

Kayla Therrien, cosmetology

Daniella Ureste, dental assisting

Krista Ricchi, medical assisting

Gold Medal Winner

Angelina Clark, cosmetology (not present at graduation)

Serena Bondini, dental assisting

Sierra Tatro, medical assisting

Silver Medal Winners

Angelina Clark, cosmetology (not present at graduation)

Gold Medal Winners

Kim Critelli, cosmetology

Daniella Ureste, dental assisting