BCC Holds Pinning Ceremony for Graduates of Practical Nursing Program

10:58AM / Monday, July 07, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) held a traditional pinning ceremony for graduates of its Practical Nursing Program on Thursday, June 26.

The event honored 22 graduates, three of whom received special awards.

Award winners are as follows:

Sarah McCormick, Academic Excellence in Nursing: This award is presented to the student who has the highest GPA within the LPN program and is given in acknowledgment of academic excellence in Nursing. This award recognizes the hard work and determination demonstrated by this student in the pursuit of nursing knowledge.
Jeidi Paredes, Clinical Excellence in Nursing: This award is presented to the student who performs exemplary delivery of nursing skills in the clinical setting. This award recognizes the role of advocacy in nursing by promoting compassionate and holistic patient centered care.
Edward Kuloba, Professionalism in Nursing: This award is presented to the student who is committed to high quality patient care, and role models teamwork and collaboration. This award recognizes the importance of communication, critical thinking and promotes the positive image of nursing.

The graduates from Massachusetts are:

Ahou Claudine Adiatou-Koffi, Pittsfield
Celia Armstrong, Housatonic
Gabrielle Barrett, Pittsfield
Marleigh Briggs, Cheshire
Yesmary Carela, Chicopee
Courtney Decker, Dalton
Erin Dillon, Pittsfield
Gretchen Ghada, Sandisfield
Miranda Harford, Pittsfield
Natoniah Kemp-Williams, Pittsfield
Chasidy Kery, Holyoke
Edward Kuloba, West Springfield
Jennifer Lippmann, Northampton
Sarah McCormick, Adams
Marina Morrison, South Lee
Yachira Olivo, Springfield
Elizabeth Paglier, Lanesborough
Jeidi Paredes, Agawam
Ariana Rave, Lee
Jacqueline Rosa, Springfield
Leticia Smachetti, Lenox Dale
Amber Sumner, Dalton

The wearing of the school pin symbolizes the right to serve others, signifying the acceptance of the responsibilities of the practice of nursing and the educational preparation of the wearer. The ceremony is a nursing school tradition dating to the turn of the twentieth century. The gold center of the pin features the college seal, including the words "To travel hopefully."

The graduates wish to thank Paula and Stan Walczyk for their gift of the nursing pins.

For more information about BCC Allied Health and Nursing programs, call the Admissions Office at (413) 236-1630 or visit www.berkshirecc.edu/nursing.

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Berkshire Museum Explores Ancient Egypt With ‘Soulful Creatures’

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
11:33AM / Friday, October 09, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Following its multimillion-dollar renovation, the Berkshire Museum is welcoming an exhibition unlike any it has been able to host before.

Marking the museum's first major exhibition since its renovation, "Soulful Creatures: Animal Mummies in Ancient Egypt," opening Saturday, Oct. 10, thins the veil between the ever-evolving history of Egyptian culture and society and modern day people.

"The most important thing about history is recognizing people from the past as actual people. Ancient Egyptians are no different than us," said William Dore, the museum's chief curator. "They have different cultures and beliefs and different viewpoints, but you can say the same thing about people today."

When audiences experience the exhibit, they will see the humanity in the people of the past, which in turn helps them connect with different views and perspectives around the world today, he said.

Combining archeology with modern scientific imaging, Brooklyn (N.Y.) Museum curators Yekaterina Barbash and Edward Bleiberg designed an exhibit that works to uncover the mysteries behind these objects and the beliefs and rituals that surround them.

"I think something that people kind of misunderstand about history is none of it's ever settled. ... History is a science that is constantly questioned,” Dore said. "It only works if everyone's constantly rethinking things, learning new things ... which is for me super exciting because as much as we know a lot about the ancient Egyptians, there's a lot we don't know.”

The installation features dozens of artifacts on loan from the Brooklyn Museum that explores the practice of animal mummification and the role animals played in ancient Egyptian religion.

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