BCC Respiratory Care Student Wins Brad Leidich Memorial Scholarship

07:40AM / Wednesday, January 07, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) student Marlena Pellon has been selected as the winner of the 2025 Brad Leidich Memorial Scholarship, with an award of $1,500.

She is the first BCC student and the first in New England to win the prestigious award.

The scholarship is presented to a first-generation student enrolled in an associate degree program in respiratory therapy. The winner has shown exemplary academic performance and has demonstrated a commitment to his or her career goals, as well as scholarly and community activities in respiratory care.

"I am so humbled that I was chosen. It really made me reflect on my hard work ethic, my drive and my attitude of always striving to be better than average," Pellon said. "As a first-generation college student, this recognition is a meaningful milestone. It affirms both my academic dedication and professional aspirations, while also reminding me of the encouragement I have received from those who champion future respiratory therapists."

Pellon graduated BCC in mid-December 2025 with an associate degree in respiratory care. She said the award will "significantly ease the financial pressures that often accompany rigorous study."

During Covid, Pellon worked as a patient attendant, an experience that made her realize she had missed her calling.

"I spent 30 years working in business administration and never really felt that what I did made a difference, but providing patient care gave me a sense of pride and made me feel like I was really helping someone," she says. She began taking classes at BCC to explore health sciences, and it was professor Maggie Goss piqued her interest in respiratory care. She is now studying for board exams and plans to work as a respiratory therapist.

As a first-gen student, Pellon said she is proud of her accomplishments.

"I'm extremely proud that I'm the first person in my family to graduate college. Unfortunately, my parents did not have the mindset to encourage higher education, but I never once let that get me down," she said. "I always strive to be the best I can be in order to achieve my goals."

Pellon resides in Pownal, Vt. with her husband of 29 years, Steven. She has two grown children, Matthew and Antonia.

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Pittsfield Subcommittee Considers E-Bike Safety

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
03:49PM / Monday, October 19, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Some city councilors want to explore ways to encourage safe e-bike use.

The Ordinances and Rules subcommittee earlier this month discussed the request by Councilor at Large Kathy Amuso and Ward 3 Councilor Matthew Wrinn to increase enforcement of bicycle and e-bike use on Pittsfield streets, install signage in high-traffic areas, and launch an educational program for kids.

Amuso has gotten reports of kids going 15 to 20 miles per hour on the sidewalk with motorized bikes while people are trying to back out of their driveways, and fears someone might get hurt.

She said if they could start with some of the basics such as riding with traffic in bike lanes and operators under 16 wearing helmets, it would address most of the calls.

"Do I think we need to put ten police on trying to find e-bikes throughout the city? I don't. But there are enough calls that I'm getting, and other councilors are getting, that we have to say, ‘Okay, what can we do?' And we have a lot of bike lanes in Pittsfield, and the e-bikes and all bikes should be in the bike lanes, not on the sidewalk,” she said.

The petition was tabled so that the Department of Public Works can study it and gather further information.

In Massachusetts, an e-bike with a top speed of 20 miles per hour and a motor of 750 watts or less is classified as a traditional bicycle. State law defines two e-bike classes:

A Class 1 electric bicycle is defined as having a motor of 750 watts or less that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.