Pittsfield UNICO Awards 2024 Scholarships

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Chapter of UNICO National held its scholarship awards ceremony on July 23 at the Italian American Club. 
 
Since 1987 UNCO has awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships to students from Berkshire County high schools. The UNICO Scholarship Committee, chaired by Julia Salatino, awarded $19,000 in scholarships this year to local high school graduates who are continuing their postsecondary education.
 
Scholarship Recipients
 
Alexandra Bills of Wahconah Regional High School received the the Gloria Powers Scholarship. The daughter of Mark and Teresa Bills, she will be attending the University of Massachusetts at Amherst's Isenberg School of Management.
 
Dominic Carnevale of Mount Greylock Regional School received the Richard Rilla Scholarship. The son of Alaina Moresi and Justin Carnevale, he will be attending Westfield State University.
 
Katarena Castagna of Pittsfield High School received the Francis Fazio Scholarship. The daughter of Krystal and Tony Castagna, she will be attending Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I.
 
Jake Duquette of Pittsfield High received the Honorable Rudolph Sacco Scholarship. The son of Christopher and Alysia Duquette, he will be attending Fairfield (Conn.) University.
 
Kailynne Errichetto of Taconic High School received the Edward DiAngelo Scholarship. The daughter of Stephen and Ashley Errichetto, she will be attending Westfield State University.
 
Olivia Gamberoni of Wahconah Regional received the Francis Sanginetti Scholarship. The daughter of Patrice and Anthony Gamberoni, she will be attending UMass at Amherst's Isenberg School of Management.
 
John Pignatelli of Lenox High School received the Honorable Paul E. Perachi Scholarship. The son of Shannon Miller and Scott Pignatelli, he will be attending UMass at Boston.
 
Christian Salzarulo of Taconic High School received the Joseph Bonaquisti Scholarship. The son of James and Gina Salzarullo, he will be attending Westfield State University.
 
Nico Sondrini of Pittsfield High received the Louis Shogry Scholarship. The son of Peter and Tracy Sondrini, will be attending Westfield State University.
 
Ava Telladira of Pittsfield High received the Ralph DiBlasis Scholarship. The daughter of James and Diana Telladira, she will be attending UMass at Boston.
 
Kaeleigh Tornicelli of Taconic High received the James DiSimoni Scholarship. The daughter of Kimbery Tornicelli, she will be attending Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y.
 
Nevaeh Williams of Taconic High received the Mario DiMartino Scholarship. Her guardian is Lori Cook and she will be attending Fitchburg State University.
 
Cameron Williamson of Pittsfield High received the Robert Quattrochi Scholarship. The son of Wesley and Jena Williamson, he will be attending Berkshire Community College.
 
Baseball/Softball Hall of Fame Scholarships
 
Daniella Barry of Wahconah High, daughter of Gregory and Lynn Barry, will be attending Pennsylvania State University.
 
Ashton Bock of Pittsfield High, son of Phil and Nadia Bock, will be attending Siena College.
 
Nicholas Brindle of Pittsfield High, son of Paul and Laurie Brindle, will be attending St. Joseph's College.
 
Caleb Petruzella of Taconic High, son of Denise Petruzella, he will be attending Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y.
 
Vocational/Technical Scholarships
 
Damaris Escalon-Brizuela of Taconic High received the Sheriff Thomas Bowler Scholarship. The son of Douglas Escalon and Maria Bruzcela, he will be attending Westfield State University.
 
Anthony Fiorini, also of Taconic High, received the John Pignatelli Scholarship. The son of Matt Fiorini, he will be attending McCann Technical School in North Adams. 

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Pittsfield Native Competing in Miss Massachusetts

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Taconic High graduate Nevaeh Williams is competing in the 2026 Miss Massachusetts Scholarship Competition this weekend in Worcester.

She said pageants have helped her step into her own self-confidence while helping others; her chosen community service initiative is the AYJ Fund of North Adams. 

"When I was younger, I had an issue with body image, and I thought I had to look a certain way. So, I joined pageants to try to help with my self-confidence, and I soon fell in love, and it helped me become a more well-rounded young woman," Williams said. 

"Along with it, it made me fall in love with myself and my body, no matter what I look like." 

The 2026 Miss Massachusetts Scholarship Competition is being held at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester on Friday, June 19, with finals on Saturday, June 20, at 7 each night.

Williams, holding the title of Miss Mayflower 2026, has continued her journey in pageants over the past four years and says she has truly come to learn so much about herself. 

"And have grown into, I believe, the best young woman I possibly could, because of the Miss America opportunity," she said.

A 2024 graduate of Taconic, she attends Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston, studying echocardiogram sonography. 

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