BCC Continues MassReconnect Information Sessions

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) continues its series of special community college information sessions for anyone either over the age of 25 without a college degree or for those pursuing a nursing degree. 
 
In both cases, thanks to the Commonwealth's MassReconnect and nursing scholarship programs, attending college at BCC can be completely free.  
 
Free information sessions will be held: 
  • Saturday, December 9: 10 am, Berkshire Community College, 1350 West Street, Pittsfield 
  • Tuesday, December 12: 5 pm, virtual  
  • Thursday, December 14: 5 pm, Brien Center, 124 American Legion Drive, North Adams  
To register for a session, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/massreconnect-nursing.
 
Financial aid, admissions and advising staff will be on hand, and question-and-answer sessions will be held after the information sessions. 
 
MassReconnect is a program that pays the full costs of community college for adults 25 and older who do not already have a college degree. MassReconnect covers tuition and fees for eligible students, who also receive an allowance to pay for books and supplies.  
 
Students are eligible for the MassReconnect program if they: 
  • Are 25 or older on the first day of classes      
  • Are enrolled in and pursuing a program of higher education at a public community college 
  • Have not previously earned a college degree     
  • Are enrolled in at least six credits per semester  
  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 
  • Are a Massachusetts resident 
The Community College Nursing Scholarship Program is designed for students who intend to enroll in and complete a credential or degree in nursing. The program provides "last dollar" financial assistance to ensure that all eligible students have adequate resources to fully cover the direct costs of tuition and fees towards a certificate or associate degree at a public community college.  
 
Students are eligible for the Community College Nursing Scholarship Program if they: 
 
  • Reside in Massachusetts for at least one year prior to the beginning of the school term and be a U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident or non-citizen eligible under Title IV regulations, or have an approved eligibility status designated by the Board of Higher Education 
  • Have not earned a prior degree 
  • Are not in default on any state or federal student loans for attendance at any institution 
  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually 
  • Are enrolled full-time or part-time in a nursing program at a community college in Massachusetts 
  • Meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP) 
  • Demonstrate unmet need toward the costs of tuition, fees, books and supplies, after all other grant and scholarship aid has been accounted for 

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ADOPTED! Companion Corner: Cali and Kyzer at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

Great news, Kyzer and Cali found a home for Christmas already! Still looking for a new friend for the holidays? There are plenty of dogs and cats and small animals at Berkshire Humane who would love to go home with you.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a bonded dog pair awaiting a new family at the Berkshire Humane Society.

Kyzer and Cali are both poodles. Kyzer is the male and is 7 years old, a quite a bit bigger than his sister Cali, who is a miniature of Kyzer and 8 years old.

Canine adoption counselor Rhonda Cyr introduced us to the two.

"They came from a household that couldn't hold on to them, and it sounds like they may have been abandoned by their previous owner with somebody else, and so they came to us looking for a new home," she said.

The two love to be around you and snuggle. But both are very happy dogs.

"Kyzer is 7 years old, and his personality is that he kind of wants to be in everything. He's very loving, very snuggly, as you can tell. And Callie here, she's 8 years old, and she is kind of like the life of the party," said Cyr. "She wants to tell you everything about her day, and she's a little bit of a little ham."

The two are considered seniors and really like soft treats as Cali just had a few teeth removed and Kyzer has a tooth procedure coming up.

"Currently, they really like soft treats, because they are both on the senior side of things. So they have had some dental work, so they are really in need of something softer. They are not big chewers at this age, really, their main focus right now is just really socializing and cuddling," Cyr said.

The two would love a quiet home with someone who wants to snuggle. They shouldn't go to a home with bigger dogs but if you have a dog, you can bring them in for a visitation with the poodles to see if they will get along. Cats will be fine and the preference is for older and more responsible children so that the pups don't get hurt, as they are senior citizens.

"The perfect home for them would be a quiet home that's not too active. Like I said, they're very social, so they could handle some visitors," she said. "They're very friendly, but I don't think that they would really enjoy any other dogs in the home."

Poodles need to be regularly groomed, and the prospective adopter will have to keep an eye on their health. Kyzer has a heart murmur that needs to be monitored. This doesn't mean he is in bad health, as he could live a perfectly normal life, but he will need to be checked by a veterinary specialist routinely.

"Ideally, he would go to a home that could provide further health care with a specialist in cardiac care. And you know, he could very well live out the rest of his life comfortably and happy," Cyr said. "We just don't have all that information at the moment, but I think that you know the way he's going right now. He's got a good spirit, and he seems to be pretty happy."

The shelter is hoping the to get them a home for the holidays.

"We would love to get them a home in time for the holidays. They've been here since the eighth of November, and they're really, really looking as much as the staff loves them here, we're really looking to get them into a home and somewhere nice and cozy so they can spend the rest of their life together," she said.

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