BCC to Hold Celebration for Honors Scholars

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) will hold a celebration of students, faculty and staff involved in the Berkshire Honors Scholar Program, with special recognition of students who are graduating, on Thursday, June 1 from 2-3 pm on the main campus and on Zoom. 
 
Following opening remarks delivered by Vice President for Academic Affairs Laurie Gordy, Honors Scholar Program alum Keira Codey will be the featured speaker.
 
After graduating from BCC in fall 2020, Codey attended Southern New Hampshire University. She graduated summa cum laude in August 2022 with a bachelor's degree in history. She now works as the Youth Liberal Arts Coordinator at the Boys and Girls Club of the Berkshires, where she has introduced new arts programming to the organization's extensive offerings.
 
Students in the Berkshire Honors Scholar Program contribute to a diverse community of learning at BCC. The program provides a creative and challenging student-driven experience, designed for highly motivated students who want to realize their full potential by pursuing the highest level of academic achievement possible at BCC. Eligible members must take at least nine credits of honors courses and maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or higher.
 
This year's Honors Scholar graduates, who completed nine credit hours of honors courses, are:
  • Ashton Bird, Valedictorian (Associate in Arts, Liberal Arts)
  • William Caseletto (Associate in Arts, Liberal Arts)
  • Connor Diehl (Associate in Arts, Liberal Arts)
  • Loretta Francoeur (Associate in Science, Human Services)
  • Olivia Millis (Associate in Arts, Business Administration)
  • Austin Rock (Associate in Science, Computer Information Systems)
 
Graduates who completed at least one honors course are:
  • Kymani Chapman (Associate in Science, Criminal Justice)
  • Gabrielle Harding (Associate in Science, Criminal Justice)
  • Crystal Harrington (Associate in Science, Physical Therapist Assistant)
  • Michela Laurin (Associate in Arts, Fine Arts)
  • Sinaia Smith (Associate in Arts, Liberal Arts)
 
In addition, two current Berkshire Honors Scholars are slated to receive awards on Awards Night, which will be held later the same evening at 6 pm. Audrey Bartzsch will receive the Berkshire Honors Scholar Award, and Renee LeClair will receive the Berkshire Honors Scholarship.
 
The Berkshire Honors Scholar Award was established to recognize an outstanding member of the Berkshire Honors Scholar Program.  The scholarship is funded by the Berkshire Community College Foundation. The Berkshire Honors Scholarship is presented to a student currently in the Berkshire Honors Scholar Program who successfully completed or is currently enrolled in an honors course at Berkshire Community College. The scholarship is funded by friends of the Berkshire Honors Scholar Program.

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Pittsfield Police Chief Retiring in January

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police Chief Thomas Dawley will retire next month after 24 years with the Pittsfield Police Department, and the mayor will appoint his successor. 

Dawley's last day will be on Jan. 9, and he told iBerkshires that it was "just time." He began his law enforcement career in 1995 at the Berkshire County House of Corrections and was appointed police chief in June 2024

"Reasons for leaving are cumulative. I have been in law enforcement for almost 30 years. There is no particular reason for my retirement, I just feel that it is time," he wrote in an email. 

"I love the profession and love this department. The duties, responsibilities and obligations as a Chief are very demanding. It is a lifestyle, not a job. It is a 24/7–365 days a year responsibility." 

According to The Berkshire Eagle, Dawley told Mayor Peter Marchetti of his intention to retire back in April but had kept the decision quiet. Marchetti is expected to choose his successor in the next couple of weeks. 

Dawley, 52, was "honored and humbled" when he was chosen two years ago to succeed Michael Wynn, he said, and he misses being an officer out in the community, as the role of chief is more administrative by nature. He described the officers and civilian staff at the department as "the best of the best" and is proud of the "second to none" dedication, professionalism, and commitment they bring to work every day. 

"Policing is different than it was 10-20 years ago and the profession is being tested daily," he noted. 

"I want a new challenge and preferably something that does not involve law enforcement, but I am definitely not ruling it out!" 

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