The programs ranged from emergency medical technician to computers to commercial drivers. See more photos here.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College Workforce and Community Education graduates were encouraged to be all they can be on Wednesday.
Graduates, families, friends, and staff gathered in Boland Theatre to celebrate around 100 graduates who completed a variety of courses.
They included community health worker, emergency medical technician, phlebotomy technician, registered behavior technician, AI fundamentals, Commercial Drivers License Class A and B, CompTIA Tech-plus, para educator, and English for Speakers of Other Languages.
College President Ellen Kennedy said it was amazing that this might be her last public speaking event before her tenure comes to an end.
She acknowledged the diverse reasons for their studies including career advancement and personal growth, commending their vulnerability and dedication.
"Some of you explored AI, some of you improved your English speaking in really important ways, and the reason that each of you is here is because you decided to put your heart and soul to get vulnerable to do something that might have felt a little bit uncomfortable," she said. "And you did it, and we are so incredibly proud of you, and so happy to be here tonight, celebrating you."
Keynote speaker Shirley Edgerton, founder of Rites of Passage and Empowerment (ROPE) encouraged the graduates to reflect on their accomplishments and look forward to the future.
"Only after you have truly savored this moment, should you ask yourself, how do I want to further my career? What is it that I truly want to do next?" she said. "As you look to the future, be bold, be humble. Being humble does not mean downplaying your talents or diminishing your worth. Never diminish your life. Own your journey, own your success, and always do what is right for you."
She also told them to embrace their intelligence and the importance of lifelong learning sharing examples of famous late career success as well as young career success.
"A few strategies to connect or reconnect to the excitement of learning is to seek out topics, books, or projects that align with your personal interests and lived experiences, engage in discussions or share what you've learned, or study in groups to foster social connection," Edgerton said. "Finding your place in the world can occur at any age."
She ended with the poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost.
Kennedy wished the graduates the best with the continuation of their journeys.
"I wish you that this is perhaps the first step in a journey that you're taking with Berkshire Community College, or in the field that you've chosen, and you inspire each and every one of us. Your stories have been shared in some cases to inspire others."
She hoped they may have inspired people in the theater to continue their education.
"So, I hope if you were in this audience tonight, and you started and had to pause, or you've been thinking, 'Is this the right next step for me,'" she said. "That you will be inspired to be over here the next time we do this event, wearing one of those beautiful white stoles, and being celebrated by family, friends, by the college, and by our community."
Executive Director of Workforce and Community Education Linda Clairmont presented the certificates.
Health care and social services certificates were presented by program manager Tiffany Moreno; education, IT, and trades certificates by program manager Jessica Sheehan; and English for Speakers of Other Languages certificates by program coordinator Ana Suffish.
Class of 2026 Graduates:
HEALTHCARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES
Community Health Worker: Na'Oshi Ollie Adekunjo, Soren Bouchard, Mariana Cardena Orozco, Destiny Cartagena, Daily Micaela. Carlos Quintanilla Gilligan, Carl Sain Vil, Kelvin Toro, Eleanor Troske
Emergency Medical Technician: Isaac Bowles, Hunter Briggs, Michelle Dowling, Cody Doyle, Amanda Filiault, Taylor Fiske, Joshua Kelly, Brad Lepicier, Olivia Miranda-Brasil, Rune Ritcher, Steven Soldato, Benjamin Westlake
Registered Behavior Technician: Jazmin Baskin, Caitlyn Caporale, Gabrielle Connors, Limoges Dauray-Strange, Caroline Fontana Troian, Aisha Gardner, Jennifer Victor, Naomi Vieu-Holloway, Kristen Ward, Derek Wood, Lisa Wright
EDUCATION, IT AND TRADES
Al Fundamentals: Masachs Boungou, Jazmin Bowland, Alex Cordero, Favio Mariduena, Karl Myers, Ivan Piraquive Torres
Commercial Driver's License (Class A): German Eduardo Hernandez Perdomo, Scott Hunter, Eamonn Percy, Nicholas Puntin, Jose Rosario, Brandon Senner, Jeffrey Shea
Commercial Driver's License (Class B): Richard Adamczyk, Austin Delgado, Tarik El-Hilali, Gabriel Fahey, Huntter Hathaway, Noah Hunter, Eric Keefner, Jonathan Miller, James Rivers, Kerry Robinson, Kristen Storer, Louis Tellone
CompTIA Tech-plus: Haze Brown, Shaun Knysh, Dominic Lannan, Robby Larke, Aidan Lyman, Prince Owusu, Jacob Reilly, Devin Reynolds
ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES: Mayra Armijos, Andrés Barrera, Edison Bravo-Saldana, Yuzhen Chen, Alberto Ramon Coronel Gonzalez, Jian Chao Gao, Indunil Hitihame Mudiyanselage, David Melchor, Maria Jose Ortega Zapata, Akemi Parra Palacios, Ricardo Oliver Santillan Garcia
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BRPC, BDAO to Host Community Forum on Kratom
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Effective Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, Massachusetts has temporarily placed Kratom into Schedule I for one year while additional study and evaluation occur.
Under this temporary order, retailers may not display, sell, or distribute Kratom products, though they may store them out of sight. Local Boards of Health hold discretion on determining municipal enforcement.
To address these changes and discuss community impacts, the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, Berkshire Public Health Alliance, and Southern Berkshire Public Health Collaborative are hosting a community forum on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The event will take place in person at the Berkshire Innovation Center (45 Woodlawn Avenue, Pittsfield, MA) and virtually via Zoom.
The event begins with welcoming remarks from District Attorney Shugrue, followed by a presentation from Dr. Jennifer Michaels, Medical Director at The Brien Center, on Kratom fundamentals and local treatment and recovery resources. Attendees will also hear state and regional perspectives from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards, followed by a collaborative cross-sector discussion on prevention and recovery strategies.
To RSVP or to receive Zoom meeting information, please email Stacy Parsons at Stacy.Parsons@mass.gov.
For additional state background, regulatory documentation, and health guidance, visit mass.gov/info-details/kratom
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