BCC Holds Pinning Ceremony for Graduates of Practical Nursing Program

10:58AM / Monday, July 07, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) held a traditional pinning ceremony for graduates of its Practical Nursing Program on Thursday, June 26.

The event honored 22 graduates, three of whom received special awards.

Award winners are as follows:

Sarah McCormick, Academic Excellence in Nursing: This award is presented to the student who has the highest GPA within the LPN program and is given in acknowledgment of academic excellence in Nursing. This award recognizes the hard work and determination demonstrated by this student in the pursuit of nursing knowledge.
Jeidi Paredes, Clinical Excellence in Nursing: This award is presented to the student who performs exemplary delivery of nursing skills in the clinical setting. This award recognizes the role of advocacy in nursing by promoting compassionate and holistic patient centered care.
Edward Kuloba, Professionalism in Nursing: This award is presented to the student who is committed to high quality patient care, and role models teamwork and collaboration. This award recognizes the importance of communication, critical thinking and promotes the positive image of nursing.

The graduates from Massachusetts are:

Ahou Claudine Adiatou-Koffi, Pittsfield
Celia Armstrong, Housatonic
Gabrielle Barrett, Pittsfield
Marleigh Briggs, Cheshire
Yesmary Carela, Chicopee
Courtney Decker, Dalton
Erin Dillon, Pittsfield
Gretchen Ghada, Sandisfield
Miranda Harford, Pittsfield
Natoniah Kemp-Williams, Pittsfield
Chasidy Kery, Holyoke
Edward Kuloba, West Springfield
Jennifer Lippmann, Northampton
Sarah McCormick, Adams
Marina Morrison, South Lee
Yachira Olivo, Springfield
Elizabeth Paglier, Lanesborough
Jeidi Paredes, Agawam
Ariana Rave, Lee
Jacqueline Rosa, Springfield
Leticia Smachetti, Lenox Dale
Amber Sumner, Dalton

The wearing of the school pin symbolizes the right to serve others, signifying the acceptance of the responsibilities of the practice of nursing and the educational preparation of the wearer. The ceremony is a nursing school tradition dating to the turn of the twentieth century. The gold center of the pin features the college seal, including the words "To travel hopefully."

The graduates wish to thank Paula and Stan Walczyk for their gift of the nursing pins.

For more information about BCC Allied Health and Nursing programs, call the Admissions Office at (413) 236-1630 or visit www.berkshirecc.edu/nursing.

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EPA, GE Conducting Vernal Pool Study on Housatonic River

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
11:44AM / Tuesday, August 11, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A pilot study will determine the best way to remediate PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, from vernal pools in the Housatonic River.

Last month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and General Electric held an open house for the Vernal Pool Pilot Study on Reach 5A, a five-mile stretch between the river's confluence and Lenox border. Despite the rain, several people attended the event at the Berkshire Athenaeum.

EPA project manager Josh Fontaine explained that it is an evaluation of which remediation method to use for the remaining vernal pools in Reach 5A.

"We're going to be testing two different methods. One is an excavation method, which we already know has been very successful with another vernal pool cleaned up much earlier in the project," he said.

"And then the other is the application of two different carbon amendments. It would be the application of powdered activated carbon and the application of granulated activated carbon."

Ten vernal pools will be cleaned using these methods: five with excavation and five with active carbon; seven additional vernal pools will be monitored as controls. Construction will be complete around October, but the pools will be left to their natural processes and monitored with surveys and sampling for three years.

Fontaine said there is no frontrunner for methodology.

"We know the excavation method is effective, but we would like to see if the less invasive method of using the amendment will be as effective for potential use," he said.

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