1Berkshire Welcomes Youth Leadership Program Class of 2027
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — 1Berkshire welcomes its 15th 1Berkshire Youth Leadership Program class.
This group of 32 high school juniors from across the Berkshires was selected through a competitive application process to begin a year-long leadership development program that kicked off in June with a three-day, two-night retreat held at Camp Chimney Corners.
The 1Berkshire Youth Leadership Program is focused on helping students in the region develop and grow through career opportunity awareness, leadership skill development, and the design and completion of a 9-month-long collective-impact project focused on the betterment of the Berkshires.
Over the next 8 months, these 32 students will convene at locations all around the region to participate in workshops, engage in group dialogue, learn from speakers and one another, and to develop and execute their selected collective-impact project. With a focus on sustainability and diversity, equity, and inclusion, this year's program will also aim to engage students in discussions that create reflection and new levels of self awareness.
"During this year's kick-off retreat, our students met, in many cases for the first time, and began bonding and thinking about how their individual learning and communication styles interact," Kevin Pink, Deputy Director of Economic Development at 1Berkshire and Director of the Youth Leadership Program said. "We are thrilled to kick off another amazing year in which our students will build a stronger understanding of the region and the community, as well as collaboratively design and execute a project to make a positive impact here in the Berkshires and in the world."
Made possible through the financial and resource support of sponsors including Beacon Bank, Berkshire Health Systems, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA, NBT Bank, and Berkshire Agricultural Ventures, the 1Berkshire Youth Leadership Program is coordinated by 1Berkshire with the dynamic support of the volunteer Youth Leadership Program Steering Committee, chaired by Julie Haagenson of New Pathways Coaching & Consulting.
This committee is composed of professionals from across the region who commit their time and expertise to develop and facilitate the monthly sessions for the class, while also offering advice to the students as they look to their own futures.
The 2026-2027 Youth Leadership Class participants are:
Myra Annuva - Mount Greylock Regional High School
Sophia Astorino - Charles H. McCann Technical School
Aryanna Bouchard - Wahconah Regional High School
Carter Brbovic - Pittsfield High School
Cole Creighton - Mount Greylock Regional High School
Aubrey Dowd - Wahconah Regional High School
Anima Ekua Gyapong - Pittsfield High School
Devyn Fillio - Lee Middle and High School
Nathan Foster - Mount Everett Regional School
Ruben Fried - Pittsfield High School
Liv Guinan - Lee Middle and High School
Oscar Heeringa - Mount Greylock Regional High School
Sarah Henderson - Pittsfield High School
Mia Hiltpold - Pittsfield High School
Genevieve Lagess - Hoosac Valley High School
Boden Mariano - Winlow Oaks Homeschool
Max Mozian - Lenox Memorial Middle and High School
Olivia Perez - Mount Greylock Regional High School
Jessmirac Perry - Pittsfield High School
Chloe Potash - Pittsfield High School
Genevieve Quinto - Drury High School
Addy Reddington - Wahconah Regional High School
Emily Rosen - Lenox Memorial High School
Corey Rudin - Mount Greylock Regional School
Elizabeth Sahakyants - Lenox Memorial Middle and High School
Jonah Sanabria - Monument Mountain Regional High School
Nora Schoeny - Lenox Memorial Middle and High School
Elizabeth Spelman - Mount Greylock Regional High School
Audra Tresp - Lenox Memorial High School
Megan Tucker - Wahconah Regional High School
Rhaya Wright - Drury High School
Langston Young-Taft - Monument Mountain Regional High School
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