College Notes: Spring 2026
Emma Gray of the town of Florida, a rising senior at Stonehill College in Easton, is one of three students who recently researched the effect of a diabetes medication on Parkinson's disease as part of the college's Undergraduate Research Experience.
With rising senior Ava Young and new graduate Gabriella Parisi, the students were supervised by Nicole Cyr, professor of biology and Neuroscience Program director. They studied how a class of drugs called GLP-1RAs — more commonly known by brand names like Ozempic and Wegovy — affect the brain.
Cyr was interested in researching GLP-1RAs. But she credits Parisi, Young and Gray with taking the lab in this direction. "They took the wheel," Cyr said. "They really helped me get this line of research started."
Gray, a neuroscience major, said, "Professor Cyr has her general concept, but she is really great about letting us take a big role ... At other schools, students aren't really driving the research."
Next year, the students will present their findings at the Northeast Undergraduate/Graduate Research Organization for Neuroscience conference.
Emmanuel College students Claire Jones and Juan Bedard Torres, both of Pittsfield, learned about history and gained deeper perspective on the present through the 5th annual Social Justice Trip to New Orleans in March. The trip was organized through the Boston college's Office of Community Engagement and featured stops at civil rights museums, historic landmarks, and learning from pioneers both past and present.
Caden Gidarakos of Great Barrington and Emma Gray of the town of Florida were recently inducted into Lambda Epsilon Sigma at Stonehill College in Easton. The college's academic honor society recognizes outstanding juniors and seniors who have demonstrated an excitement for learning and sharing their knowledge.
Madeline Tillem of Lenox took part in the musical adaption of "Twelfth Night" in Muhlenberg College's Baker Theatre this April 23-26, directed by James Peck. A graduate of Miss Hall's School in Pittsfield, Tillem was a wigs and hair assistant. The sophomore is studying history and psychology at the Allentown, Pa., college.
Arianna Coppola of Pittsfield was one of 15 students inducted into Sigma Beta Delta at Emmanuel College.
Arianna Coppola of Pittsfield was recently inducted into the Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society at the Emmanuel College School of Business & Management in Boston. The national honor society for business, management and administration considerrs seniors in the top 20 percent of their class and juniors in the top 10 percent of their class. Coppola is one of 15 students to achieve that distinction this spring.
Madalyne Creamer of Pittsfield was recently inducted into two honor societies at Emmanuel College. They are Psi Chi, an international honor society in psychology open to those in the top 35 percent of their class, and Pi Lambda Theta, which recognizes outstanding students who intend to pursue careers in education.
Christopher Nerrie of Lenox was recently elected to membership into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest all-discipline collegiate honor society, at University of Massachusetts. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership.
Arianna Coppola of Pittsfield was recently recognized for completing the honors program at Emmanuel College in Boston. The program invites students to push their boundaries by participating in a co-curricular academic experience. Students immerse themselves in an engaged learning community in which they openly discuss ideas, perspectives and complex questions. They must complete four honors courses, a distinction paper and one experience.
Nathaniel Von Ruden of Ashley Falls, a rising senior majoring in mechanical engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, was a member of a student team that recently completed a professional-level research-driven project titled "Creating Digital Literacy Educational Modules for Secondary." Known as the Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP), this project is a core part of the innovative undergraduate experience centered around project-based learning. All WPI undergraduates are required to complete an IQP, usually in their junior year, through which they apply science and technology to address an important societal need or issue.
Graduations
Maggie D'Aniello of Great Barrington was among a record 3,762 graduates who received degrees from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln during commencement exercises May 8-9. She earned a bachelor of arts from the College of Arts and Sciences.
Natalie Pompi of Adams was awarded an undergraduate degree from Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I., during its 76th commencement held May 17. President Kelli J. Armstrong conferred 525 bachelor's degrees upon the class of 2026.
Caden Gidarakos of Great Barrington received a Bachelor of Science in business administration degree at Stonehill College's 75th commencement on Sunday, May 17. Leo J. Meehan III '75, president and CEO of W.B. Mason, was keynote speaker at the Easton college.
Mohith Indla of Great Barrington completed requirements Master of Business Administration degree from Trine University in Angola, Ind., at the end of the spring 2026 semester.
DCU Center in Worcester hosts Holy Cross's commencement; a few days later, Clark University held its commencement.
Local students earning degrees were Zachariah Annand of Dalton, Gavin Santos of Glendale, Lars-Belvin Larsson of Monterey and Lilly Patton of the town of Washington, magna cum laude.
Clark University in Worcester held its commencement exercises at the DCU Center on Monday, May 18, awarding 612 bachelor's degrees and 636 graduate degrees; graduates represented 49 states and 69 countries.
Earning bachelor's degrees were Hunter Bishop of the town of Florida in English; Henry Sims of Pittsfield, magna cum laude, in English; Paige Webster of Pittsfield, summa cum laude, in interactive media. Earning master's degrees were Madeline McMillan of Great Barrington in teaching and Morgan Martin of Pittsfield in community development and planning.
Emmanuel College in Boston awarded more than 380 degrees to the class of 2026 at its 104th commencement on May 9. Three students, all of Pittsfield, received the following degrees: Arianna Coppola, Bachelor of Arts Management, magna cum laude; Madalyne Creamer, Bachelors of Arts in liberal studies and in elementary education, magna cum laude; Chloe Wendling, Bachelors of Arts in developmental psychology and in political science, cum laude.
Cole Curtiss of Pittsfield graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in international affairs from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., during commencement exercises in May 2026.
Westley Cook of Adams has earned a Master of Science in Analytics from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Cook was among 7,129 undergraduate and graduate students to be presented Georgia Tech degrees during the 270th commencement exercises May 7 to 9.
Elms College in Chicopee congratulates 279 students who graduated in spring 2026, including Madison Berger of Clarksburg, Michael Adams of Great Barrington, Jessica Priester and Malina Woodbury of Lanesborough, Namasaran Samassi-Fofana of Pittsfield, and Nadya Laplante-Berezowskyj of Williamstown.
American International College in Springfield held its 141st commencement was held on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Mass Mutual Center. Earning degrees were Jonathan Beaudreau of North Adams, Master of Science; Ahliya Phillips of Pittsfield, Bachelor of Science; and Aaron Garner of Pittsfield, Master of Science.
Madison Lodowski of Pittsfield earned a Bachelor of Science from Elmira (N.Y.) College.
Erin O'Brien of East Otis has received Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Information Sciences from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. UA awarded some 7,000 degrees during its spring commencement ceremonies. She also was named to the dean's list for the spring semester.
The University of Hartford in West Hartford, Conn., awarded 1,093 graduate and undergraduate degrees this spring as part of the Class of 2026, including Bachelors of Science in computer engineering to Nicolas Salinetti and in robotics engineering to Jason Dion, both of Dalton, and an Associate in Arts in liberal studies to Taylor Vidoli of Pittsfield.
Ella Pechalonis of Pittsfield graduated this spring from the University of Tampa in Florida with a bachelor of science in criminology and criminal justice.
More than 4,200 students in the class of 2026 were celebrated during University of Albany's spring commencement festivities. Among the graduates from the New York State school were: Robert Manning of Clarksburg, Gabrielle DiMassimo of Pittsfield and Jameson DiMaio of West Stockbridge.
Ty Higgins of New Marlborough graduated with a Bachelor of Science in finance in May from Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I.
Riley Burke of Lenox, received a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University during its commencement ceremony on May 17.
More than 3,600 students across all schools graduated from Tufts University in Medford on May 17. The following students were among those who graduated were Luisa Capetillo of Great Barrington and Liam Chalfonte of Pittsfield.
Vermont State University in Randolph Center awarded associates degrees in nursing to the following members of the class of 2026: Vermont graduates Kate Craft of Pownal and Heidi McHugh of Readsboro, and Massachusetts graduates Teyah Foley of Lanesborough, Molly O'Dowd of North Adams, and Talya Kyse of Pittsfield.
Academic Lists & Awards
Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester congratulates the following students on being named to the spring 2026 honors lists.
Dean's list: Scott McGuire and Lachay Canada of Adams, Madeline Turton of Lanesborough, Chelsey Wellspeak of North Adams, and Nicholas Messana and Dzidefo Amesimeku of Pittsfield.
President's list: Christine Meiklejohn, Savannah Mattoon and Elias Masse, all of Adams; Lael Harrington and Megan Dubreuil of Cheshire; April White of Dalton; Nicole Woodard of town of Florida; Elsie DiLisio of Housatonic; Trae Balardini of Lanesborough; Faith Cahoon of North Adams; Matthew Mitchell, Tina Proctor, Zenei Andersson, Corey Plankey, Niasia Johnson of Pittsfield, Ruchelle Nova Jison, Edward Jones, Alexandria Poulton, Justin Lenski and Loralee Shoffner, all of Pittsfield; and Jasmine Bushee of Pownal, Vt.
Austin Crowley of Pownal, Vt., was named to the online president's list and to the trustees' list at Champlain College in Burlington, Vt., for the spring 2026 semester. The trustees' list names students achieving a 4.0 GPA for two or more consecutive semesters. Crowley is studying applied psychology.
Elms College in Chicopee has named the following students to the dean's list for the spring 2026 semester: Corrisa Regan of Adams, Michael Adams of Great Barrington, Malina Woodbury of Lanesborough, Madison Saunders of North Adams, and Joshua Bolduc, Sarah Fellmann, Susan Healey Wicker, Michaela O'Soro, Leah Parker, Namasaran Samassi-Fofana and Alissa Schettini, all of Pittsfield.
The State University of New York at Buffalo has named Ethan Rudin of North Adams to the spring 2026 dean's list.
Champlain College in Burlington, Vt., has named Ashlee Nicol of North Adams and Olivia Armstrong and Michael Kerwood of Pittsfield to the Trustees List for achieving a 4.0 grade point average for at least two consecutive semesters. Named to the dean's list for the spring semester are Odin Sisco of Great Barrington, Nicholas Gushard of Lenox, Rodrick Stoppiello of North Adams, Samantha Taxter of West Stockbridge and Reed Fachini of Windsor.
Elise Tyler of Lenox, majoring in archaeological studies, has been named to the spring semester dean's list at the State University of New York at Potsdam.
Gianna Maddalena of Pittsfield was named to the College of Charleston (S.C.) spring 2026 president's list. She is majoring in communications.
Natalie Pompi of Adams was named to the dean's list for the spring 2026 academic semester at Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I.
American International College in Springfield has named Michelle Wood of North Adams, Ahliya Phillips of Pittsfield and Isabella Viola of West Stockbridge to the dean's list for the spring 2026 semester.
Devon Hanavan of Pittsfield was named to dean's list for the winter/May term at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.
Joseph McGovern of Pittsfield has achieved dean's list honors for the spring 2026 semester at Nichols College in Dudley.
Dean College in Franklin has named Jasper Zahn of Pittsfield to the president's list for the spring 2026 semester.
Western New England University in Springfield recognized 597 students on the spring 2026 president's list and 805 to the dean's list. President's list: Benjamin West of Dalton, Troy Wnuk of North Adams, and Gwendolyn Scorpa, Lucian Dupont-Leblanc, Marquesa Connolly, Bryam Yanza Garcia and Giuseppe Vianna, all of Pittsfield. Dean's list: Jada McKie of Great Barrington, Preston Maruk of Lanesborough, and Marquesa Connolly of Pittsfield.
The University of Rhode Island in Bristol has named Keira Lennon of Adams, Emma Arnold and Grace Brule of Clarksburg, Brady Digrigoli of Lenox, and Katarena Castagna of Pittsfield to the dean's list for the spring semester and Avery Vale-Cruz and Emma Vittum, both of Pittsfield, to the president's list.
The University of Rhode Island in Kingston has named Kelsey Kirchner and Kelly Nicotra, both of Lenox and Brody Kaley of Pittsfield to its spring 2026 dean's list.
Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., has named the following rising seniors to the spring 2026 dean's list: Arthur Greenfield of Williamstown; Isaac Scribner of Pittsfield; and Silas Rella-Neill of Pownal, Vt.
Grace Wildrick of Dalton has been named to the dean's list for the spring 2026 semester at Nazareth University in Rochester, N.Y.
Ishmael Mensah of Pittsfield was named to the spring 2026 dean's list at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut.
Assumption University in Worcester has named Maryn Cappiello of Adams has been named to the dean's list for the spring 2026 semester.
Stonehill College in Easton has named Emma Gray of the town of Florida, Caden Gidarakos of Great Barrington, and Kellie Harrington of Pittsfield to the spring 2026 dean's list.
The following students have been named to the president's list at Champlain College in Burlington, Vt.: Ashlee Nicol of North Adams, and Olivia Armstrong and Michael Kerwood of Pittsfield.
Springfield College recognized its dean's list students for the 2026 spring semester. They include Katherine Shelsy of Lanesborough; Ty Barrett, Kayla McGrath and Sawyer Moser, all of North Adams; Hailey Alvarez Sorensen, Roselyn Etty, Louis Rhodes, Allison Schnopp and Kaitlyn Timoney, all of Pittsfield; and Judge Martin and Maxwell McAlister, both of Williamstown.
The University of Hartford in West Hartford, Conn., has named the following students to the honors lists for the spring 2026 semester:
President's list: Brenna Wojcik of Adams, Emmett Vollmer and Evelyn Vollmer of Ashley Falls, Jason Dion and Tim Kaley of Dalton, Ethan Pratt of Great Barrington, Mya Terry of Lenox, and Taylor Vidoli of Pittsfield.
Dean's list: Molly McLear of Cheshire, Nicolas Salinetti of Dalton, Reagan Cornell of North Adams, and Peter Fiegel of Pittsfield.
Susan Krom of Ashley Falls, a sophomore majoring in nursing, was named to the dean's list at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic.
Hannah Lee Grant of Pittsfield was honored for academic achievement by being named to the spring 2026 dean's list at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, Pa.
Victoria Breen of Great Barrington has achieved president's list honors for the spring 2026 semester at Nichols College in Dudley.
Clark University in Worcester has named the following students to the spring 2026 dean's list: First honors: Brooke A. Tripicco, Graham M. Tyne, and Paige M. Webster, all of Pittsfield; Second honors: Tanya J. Sheinkman of Becket and Hunter J. Bishop of the town of Florida.
Dean College in Franklin has named Chandler Worthington of Clarksburg, Isabella Brown of Pittsfield and Alexa Gerow of Pownal, Vt. to the dean's list for the spring 2026 semester.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute has named the following local students to the dean's list for academic excellence for the spring 2026 semester: Ariel Lachman of North Adams; Giana Barscz, Katherine Tyne and Parker Hoff, all of Pittsfield; and Rose Briggs of Williamstown.
Madeline Tillem of Lenox, a graduate of Miss Hall's School, has been named to the spring 2026 dean's list while studying history and psychology at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pa.
The University at Albany, N.Y., named the following student to the spring dean's list to recognizes their outstanding academic achievements: Calista Nelson of Great Barrington, and Rosemary Tufts and Isabelle Berkel of Pittsfield.
Cheyenne Amstead of Monterey and Joshua Worthington of Pownal, Vt., have been named to the spring dean's list at Plymouth State University.
More than 500 students were named to the spring 2026 dean's list at Russell Sage College in Troy, N.Y., including Michael Szabo of Adams and John Kelley of West Stockbridge.
University of Tampa, Fla., has named Ollie Walter of Lanesborough and Ella Pechalonis and Dominick Ott, both of Pittsfield, to the dean's list for the spring 2026 semester.
Aurora Rella-Neill of Pownal, Vt., and Grace Malone of Williamstown have been to the dean's list at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, for the winter semester that ended May 2026.
More than 1,000 students were named to the spring 2026 dean's list at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y., including Allissa Davis of Lanesborough and Henry Steinhoff of Pownal, Vt.
Vermont State University in Randolph Center has named the following students to its honors list for the spring semester: President's list: Ellisa Mattison of Pownal and Hannah Tatro of Stamford; Dean's list: Kate Craft and Kyra Hurley of Pownal, Nick Lescarbeau of Readsboro, Renae Gamari and Jordin Sullivan of Stamford, and Teyah Foley of Lanesborough, Mass.
Tufts University in Medford has named Luisa Capetillo and Annabel Holmes of Great Barrington, Liam Chalfonte and Elizabeth Wheeler of Pittsfield, and Anna Wang of Williamstown to the dean's list for the spring 2026 semester.
College of the Holy Cross of Worcester congratulates the students named to the spring 2026 dean's list: Gavin Santos of Glendale, Lars-Belvin Larsson of Monterey, Julia Wheeler and Cameryn Wilk of Pittsfield, and Lilly Patton of the town of Washington.
In recognition of their academic achievement, Emmanuel College in Boston named more than 850 students to the dean's list for the spring 2026 semester, including Connor Hanavan, Madalyne Creamer, Chloe Wendling, Juan Bedard Torres and Claire Jones, all of Pittsfield.
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