BMS Announces Talent and Merit Scholarship Recipients

10:19AM / Saturday, August 02, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Music School announced the 2025-2026 Talent and Merit Scholarship recipients.

Students who are accepted into the Talent & Merit Scholarship Program benefit from up to 100 percent tuition assistance. Last year, BMS awarded over $35,000 in Talent, Merit, and Need-Based Financial Aid Scholarships. BMS continues to take Need-Based Financial Aid Scholarship applications on a rolling basis, with enrollment open in August.

The BMS Scholarship Program, which includes the Talent & Merit Scholarships and the rolling Need-Based Financial Aid Scholarships, remains integral to its mission of allowing students to learn and grow in the Berkshire County region without financial constraints.

The 2025 – 2026 Talent & Merit Scholarship Recipients:

Tracy R. Wilson Scholarship – Shira Weiner
Helen and Milton Fink Memorial Scholarship - Artois Sancho
Gia Cox Caird Scholarship - Alyviana Manion
England/Scott Family Fund of the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation- Nina Rather
Paul Houston Memorial Scholarship - Sai Meesala
The Ruberto Scholarship - James Ryan
Daniel Pearl Scholarship - Abigail Kunzmann
Paderweski Scholarship - Kendall Heck
Chopin Scholarship - Anderson Durfee

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Suspect Arraigned in 'Horrific' Dragging Case

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:56PM / Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Complete write-thru 3 p.m., Feb. 18.

District Attorney TimothyShugrue says the community has been 'really upset' by this case.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Hancock man has been charged in last week's gruesome dragging that killed 69-year-old William Colbert.

William Gross, 65, was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on Wednesday for negligent motor vehicle homicide and leaving the scene. He was arrested Monday after police investigators narrowed down the type of car seen on video at the accident scene.

Police say Colbert had fallen in the road at the Francis Avenue and Linden Street intersection on Feb. 10 before he was struck and dragged nearly four miles. His body was found on West Housatonic Street.

Gross is being held on $250,000 cash bail in the Berkshire County House of Corrections. District Attorney Timothy Shugrue said the case will go to a grand jury and foresees additional charges being placed.

"I think this community was really upset by this case," Shugrue said while being interviewed by the press after the morning arraignment.

"It's a horrific case, and the fact that someone was fleeing, and there was someone that was stuck there that could have been treated, and potentially in the initial stages, could have been potentially saved."

Colbert was coming from a house on Francis Avenue about 11:30 on Feb. 10 when fell in the road and had trouble getting up, according to Shugrue.

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