BMS Announces Talent and 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

Local Cheer Teams Celebrate Successful Season

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
07:34AM / Saturday, April 18, 2026

The cheerleaders spoke of how their participation helped build their confidence and their focus on academics.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The gymnasium of the Boys and Girls Club was full of laughter, music, dancing, and cheer as multiple generations celebrated the hard work of 413 Cheer and Taconic High School cheerleaders with a fundraiser and showcase.

 

The fifth season for 413 Cheer was filled with achievements as the organization's teams — Codes Red, Blue, Green, Pink, Purple and Orange Fusion — had brought home awards from competitions across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. Find each team's placements at the end of the article. 

 

This year, Code Red received a wild card bid to the D2 Summit in Orlando, Fla., and Code Blue earned a bid to the Youth Summit in Tampa, Fla., but because of the cost and lack of funds, 413 Cheer will be doing its finals at Myrtle Beach, S.C., this season. 

 

(Donations to cover fees, travel and equipment can be made by emailing 413Cheer@gmail.com.)

 

The showcase last Sunday was the largest since the organization's inception five years ago, featuring spirited performances from each of the teams, a dad dance off, and mom bow challenge, raffles, concessions, and more. 

 

It also featured a performance by Taconic High School's varsity cheerleaders, coached by 413 Cheer's owner and founder Shavelle Boire. 

 

Boire said the school hasn't had a cheer team in several years, but these new cheerleaders persevered, grew, and stole her heart.