BCC Honors Program, Berkshire County Historical Society Melville Fellows
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire County Historical Society (BCHS) has named Berkshire Community College (BCC) Honors Program students Jennifer Blair, Benjamin Eshun and Amelia Coco Gilardi as the Melville Fellows for 2026.
The fellowship program, a partnership between BCHS and the BCC Honors Program, annually awards outstanding BCC students with the opportunity to work at Herman Melville's Arrowhead to create one or more pieces of original writing inspired by Arrowhead's surroundings and the BCHS collection.
Arrowhead's Writer-in-Residence Emeritus Jana Laiz spearheads the program, working in groups and individually with each Fellow from January to May. Fellows will read their original works at a public event in May.
"I am excited to work with these talented, passionate young writers in this very meaningful space, mentoring them and helping them hone their craft," Laiz said.
"Arrowhead inspired some of Melville's greatest writings," said BCHS Executive Director Lesley Herzberg. "We are pleased to share the source of his inspiration with such a talented group of young writers."
Chris Laney, BCC Honors Program Coordinator, said, "Collaborating with BCHS and offering students the rare chance to learn and write at Arrowhead exemplifies the kind of thing I love most about the Honors Program."
The Fellows, in their own words
Jennifer Blair lives in Adams with her fiancé. For her 50th birthday, she treated herself to a solo trip to Scotland — and she enrolled in classes at BCC. With a major in liberal arts, she expects to graduate in spring 2027.
"When I heard about the Melville Fellowship, something inside me lit up. The thought of writing in Herman Melville's office, with the writer in residence as a mentor, was the stuff dreams are made of. I had a moment of disbelief when I received the email stating I had been awarded one of the three coveted positions, and it's been an incredible experience ever since! Having the opportunity to write in Herman Melville's study is something I never expected to be able to do, and Jana is wonderful. She gives us thought-provoking prompts, we play writing games, and we test our boundaries. Jana pushes us to step out of that comfort zone and to watch for technical errors, all the while being kind and encouraging. I am soaking up her constructive feedback. I am honored to have been chosen for this fellowship and to be a part of such a supportive and fun group of writers."
Benjamin Eshun is in the nursing program at the College, and he plans to graduate with his Spring cohort. He says his experience at Arrowhead has been "both educational and emotionally uplifting. I take it as a welcome break from academia — stepping away from nursing readings and chemistry calculations. With Jana and my colleagues, I've found a supportive community for my writing. Reading my work aloud to like-minded peers and receiving their feedback has been a truly healing experience. I look forward to completing this fellowship successfully and sharing my work."
Amelia Coco Gilardi is a senior at Lenox Memorial Middle and High School, as well as a dual-enrollment student at BCC, and will graduate this spring with an associate degree in liberal arts.
"Writing as a Melville Fellow has been a magical experience. Getting to experience the rich history of Arrowhead, surrounded by the immense beauty of the land, is a dream come true. I grew up right down the street from Arrowhead, and it feels unreal to write and share stories in a place that I have spent so long admiring from afar. I feel connected to not just Melville, but to all the fellows that have written here in the past, and it is an honor and a privilege to join the long line of writers that have worked in this space before me. From Jana's thoughtful guidance and mentorship, to working with my incredible cohort, I feel truly blessed to have this opportunity and to share this experience with such creative and talented individuals."
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