BCC Graduates 32 Nursing Students at Pinning Ceremony

See more photos from the event here. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Hundreds of friends, families, and faculty filled the Robert Boland Theatre on Thursday to celebrate those earning associates' degrees in nursing at Berkshire Community College.

The pinning ceremony marked the hard work and dedication of 32 graduates over two years.

"The pin you receive tonight is small, but it's meaning is profound. It symbolizes the trust placed in you by your patients, your colleagues in this profession," said Dean Lori Moon. "Most importantly, it represents the promise you make to every patient you will encounter, to see them as human beings, to protect their dignity, to care for them with skill, integrity and heart."

Associate professor of nursing Kelley Alibozek graduated from the course in 2011, and was chosen as the keynote speaker because of her ability to inspire through leadership, empathy and an unwavering commitment to service. She addressed the graduates, some of whom she taught, and expressed how honored she felt to be able to speak before them. 

She spoke about how their time has been a "marathon" to get to the pinning and move onto their next step in becoming nurses.

"You finally found that feeling where you can breathe again, and you found that feeling where you can finally hang up and retire those nursing school marathon shoes, that marathon we've been talking about, what a milestone in your nursing journey," she said. 

The graduates celebrated together with their favorite motto: "no person left behind."

"We all know what you will do, and we know that you will pass, not if, will. You will do that by working together. You will do that by studying question after question … ," she said. "You will celebrate together, just like you are doing tonight. You will celebrate each and every success of each and every classmate. Because why? No person left behind." 

She noted how challenging nursing can be but together, she said, they can do it. 

"Now, your profession, it's challenging. It sure is. But you know what? You are entering the best profession in the world, I promise you. But it can be challenging," Alibozek said. 

They had to become the nurse who remembers the human connection and not just their skills.

"Guys, be that nurse, the nurse that offers the pause. Be real. Be human. Be creative. make that connection, because that human love, the realness, is what the patient and their families will hold on to forever, and what may be one of the worst moments of their entire lives, the simplicity. We can make a break back be that nurse."

After the pinning, graduate Grace Ellrodt reminisced on their time through the program, calling out each one of her classmates, and "how each student has nurtured patients, peers, loved ones, strong traits, and sources of joy."

"To each of you beside me, we took care of each other. and most proud of that. And to those classmates with us at any point along the way, they join us as nurses when the time is ready for you," she said. 

Awards

Academic Excellence in Nursing: Rachel Moriarty
Clinical Excellence in Nursing: Thomas Gwinnell
Professionalism in Nursing: Petrina Roberts
Berkshire Health Systems Spirit of Caring Award: Santiago Diaz Charry 

Graduates

Pittsfield Man Creates Device to Clear Lakes of Algae Blooms

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
08:07AM / Sunday, October 11, 2026

Marc Bellora holds a jar of lake water, left, to compare to water cleaned by his Aqua Clarifier Water System.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Marc Bellora has high hopes for a device he's created to treat lakes from harmful algae blooms.

His patented water clarifier can physically remove captured material rather than letting the nutrient-rich material settle back into the lake, which occurs when herbicides are used.

"It's a long-term lake management tool that can be used to reduce legacy nutrients in lakes and ponds over time," he explained. "We built the prototype, this is a prototype. It does approximately 65 to 70 gallons per minute. It's very environmentally friendly. Can be used with air only, or we can use a low-dose potable polyaluminum chloride (PACL) or chemical on board that can help improve results."

The water clarifier barge is based on well-proven technology for water treatment, he said. "It's a self-contained, portable, mobile unit that removes algae blooms, nitrogen, phosphorus, and the associated nitrogen and phosphorus within lakes."

Bellora founded Clear Waterways Group with business partner Mark Simon. They built a prototype mobile unit and are still working out the kinks. It's taken Bellora about five years to bring the project to fruition as he is also a full-time Realtor.

He says the repurposed barge they use has a device that uses air to filter the water to separate harmful bacteria or uses a chemical at low doses. They are testing both to see how well each does at cleaning the water.

"They would do the same thing here, except they would spray it, and it blocks all that stuff together," Bellora said of the use of herbicides. "But then it drops to the bottom. So now all the nutrients that are attached in that plot go to the bottom and contribute to the legacy nutrients only to fuel next year's bloom. Ours removes it."

He said just using air alone has removed 70 to 90 percent of harmful algae where he has been operating on the south end of Pontoosuc Lake.

"Essentially, we take in the bad stuff, we take in the lake water. We separate the good stuff from the bad stuff. Clean water goes back into the lake, and the bad stuff can either be composted, or it can be taken to the wastewater treatment plant, which is what we're doing here," he said. 

Bellora explained that tiny air bubbles attach to particles in the water, making them buoyant so they rise and can be removed. The unit can operate with air alone, or with a low dose of potable polyaluminum chloride.

PACL helps through flocculation: it gathers small particles into larger clumps that are easier for air bubbles to capture. He said this can help remove dissolved nutrients that air alone may not capture as effectively. 

Bellora said he was inspired to build something like this after noticing the lakes he enjoys being shut down because of algae blooms. 

The city issued a health advisory for Pontoosuc in August, warning residents not to swim or come in contact with the lake water because of an algae bloom. The cyanobacteria can cause skin irritations, vomiting and diarrhea and nerve or liver problems. 

Bellora previously worked for a company that used traditional dissolved air flotation (DAF) systems to treat water. In that role, he traveled around the country to work at paper mills and food-processing plants.

That experience gave him a practical understanding of DAF, and while flying between jobs, he would see green ponds and wonder whether the technology could be adapted to treat lakes.