NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — After an intensive eight months, Annaka Rose Bradley is looking to take a little break. 

 

Bradley was one of five graduating from the dental assisting pogram Tuesday at McCann Technical School. 

 

"This is a great program, I'm ready for anything now," she said, adding that there are so many places hiring she's not too concerned with taking a breather before jumping into the workforce. 

 

Why dental assisting? "I was like, you know what, I'm 26 I got to do something," she laughed between congratulations from family and friends. 

 

She and her classmates, along with two graduates in medical assisting program and 11 in the cosmetology program were presented with the diplomas on Tuesday night at the school. 

 

Superintendent James Brosnan thanked the families for supporting the students who "have successfully concluded one of the most condensed, difficult, and busy schedules," and the graduates for their "great spirits, good sense of humor, and you all had to work with each other, that team bonding will position for the rest of life."

 

School Committee Chair Gary Rivers offered his congratulations, saying the academic content and clinical experiences they had were extremely unique.

 

"You successfully stayed the course, navigating difficult curriculum while taking care of your home situation, being a parent, a spouse, and, of course, long hours of study," he said. "But because of your courage and determination, you are successful, ready to make the sacrifices and the rewards of your hard work. This is why most of you probably have a job already."

 

He told them to always do the right thing, do it to best of their ability and show people you care.

 

Rivers, Brosnan, and Principal Justin R. Kurtz presented the diplomas and the heads of each program came forward to give each graduate their medal or pin. Assistant Principal Keith Daigneault presented two scholarship award. 

 

The inaugural Patricia Dunn Memorial Scholarship was given to two graduates from the cosmetology program: Nora Moser and Sophie Reid. Dunn, a professional hairdresser, was an instructor in the postsecondary program for 29 years, retiring in July 2009. She died in December at age 78. 

 

The Hollie Converse Memorial Scholarship was presented to Nicole Liebenow in the medical assisting program. Converse graduated from the school's licensed practical nursing program and was later a surgical assistant. She died in 2024. 

 

"Converse made a career helping in others in the LPN and later the medical assisting program," said Daigneault, reading "with this scholarship, we are looking to continue her legacy of giving by helping a person with the same desire to work in health care."

 

Kelsi Houghtlin also graduated from the medical assisting program, and has a job lined up at Community Health Program in Great Barrington. 

 

"I was a CNA since I was 16, and I loved the health-care field, and I just wanted to further my career into something that wasn't necessarily nursing, but was still health-care," she said, adding the course was "very, very informative. There was two of us in class, and so it was very like interactive, the teacher was very close with us, and it was just a great experience.  

 

"This course proved it was worth going back to school."