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Community Fest: Celebrating 65 Years of Bringing College to the People!

Over 2,000 people attended the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø 65th anniversary celebration called Community Fest on Aug. 16, 2025. Guests were treated to face painting, Touch a Truck, food trucks, beer and wine vendors, soccer and pickleball tournaments, Build a Burke workshops, free community college information sessions, tarot card readng, live music, educational programming, and so much more! It was a spectacular event that highlighted how much has changed at the College and how ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø has earned its middle name by always putting the Berkshire community first.

Community Fest 2025

Athletics are back for the first time since the 90s

For the first time in decades, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø is reintroducing intercollegiate athletics with the launch of National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)-sanctioned women's volleyball in fall 2025 and men's baseball in spring 2026. As a new NJCAA member, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø will compete at the Division III level in Region 21, joining peer institutions across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.

Athletics are back

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø named Achieving the Dream 2025 Leader College

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø has been designated a 2025 Leader College by Achieving the Dream (ATD), a national nonprofit committed to student success and equity in community colleges. This recognition honors ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø's progress in increasing student achievement, improving institutional practices, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. As part of the ATD Network since 2020, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø has worked closely with expert coaches to implement data-informed strategies that support students holistically. Being named a Leader College places ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø among a select group of institutions recognized for driving impactful change in their communities through access, support, and student-centered innovation.

ATD 2025 Leader College

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø and PHS launch early college program

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø and Pittsfield High School have been officially designated as an Early College partnership by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts! This game-changing program allows eligible PHS students to take college courses — for free — starting in 10th grade. These students earn dual credit toward high school graduation and a college degree. Focused on equity and access, Early College helps students build confidence, reduce the cost of college, and get a head start on their future.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø and PHS awarded Early College designation

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø's Lyndsay Isham-Morton wins prestigious advising award

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø is proud to celebrate Lyndsay Isham-Morton, Director of Academic Advising and Coaching, winner of the Region 1 Excellence in Advising — Advising Administrator Award by NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising. Recognized for her leadership, innovation, and student-centered approach, Lyndsay has unified ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø's advising and coaching teams, created measurable advising outcomes, and implemented a new online navigation system to better serve students, especially those from historically marginalized communities.

Lyndsay Isham-Morton wins prestigious advising award

Thank you donors!

Your generosity opens doors, eases burdens and changes lives. We are honored to welcome four new scholarships this year:

• The Klug Family Psychology Scholarship supports psychology students
• The Representative Smitty Pignatelli Scholarship assists Third District residents committed to civic engagement
• The Gobel and Hollister Scholarship Fund offers general support
• The Joshua L. Weinstein Scholarship supports students pursuing a career in human behavior
• The Zaffanella Family Scholarship aids students in STEM or business fields

Donors

We love to support people who find themselves not where they wanted to be in life, but they are taking action to better themselves. When I see a single mother of three children receiving her scholarship, just trying to improve her life by taking classes, it's a very heartwarming experience all around. Those children are in the audience, clapping for her, and she's showing them what she can accomplish with hard work. ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø's commitment to students of all walks of life is truly inspiring.

Dick and Sue Cetti, Scholarship for Excellence in STEM

Dick and Sue Cetti Spotlight

Students for recovery, wellness and belonging at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø

Students for Recovery continues to grow as a vital support network for students in or exploring recovery, as well as their allies. Made possible by the generosity of a dedicated donor, the program offered more than 20 workshops, events, and wellness activities this past year, reaching a core community of engaged students through ongoing peer support, recovery resources and inclusive programming. Now in its fifth year, the program also celebrated key milestones:

• Hired a part-time Students for Recovery Coordinator to lead peer engagement and expand programming
• Offered one-on-one support, mutual-aid meetings, and student leadership opportunities
• Deepened partnerships with local recovery organizations for training and outreach
• Created a welcoming, shared lounge space in Melville 303 forconnection and support

This work wouldn't be possible without donor funding, which continues to sustain and expand a compassionate, stigma-free space where ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø students feel seen, supported, and empowered as they pursue their academic and personal journeys.

Students for Recovery

Harvest Run

In partnership with Integritus Healthcare, the 2024 Harvest Run once again raised critical funds to support ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø's Nursing and Allied Health programs, preparing the next generation of skilled, compassionate healthcare professionals. Through the incredible generosity of our sponsors, donors, and participants, students are now better equipped with the tools, training, and confidence they need to step into essential healthcare roles across the Berkshires. It's not just a run. It's also a free indoor festival with family-friendly activities, food tastings, and costume contests, open to all!

Harvest Run 2025: Saturday, Nov. 1

Rezeda emigrated from Russia in 2018 with a biotechnology degree but faced challenges transferring her credentials and finding work. With determination and support from ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø and a MassHire grant, she completed the EMT program and passed her certification in early 2025. Now working as an emergency department technician at Fairview Hospital, Rezeda balances her career with family life and plans to pursue nursing at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø. She credits the affordability, flexibility, and strong community at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø for enabling her to advance her healthcare career locally — proving that with dedication, opportunity is within reach.

Rezeda Kohlenberger Spotlight

Michael’s journey to becoming ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s valedictorian was anything but traditional. After 11 years in retail, an unexpected job loss inspired him to pursue his passion for engineering through ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s new Mechatronics program. Supported by MassReconnect tuition funding and dedicated faculty mentorship, Michael balanced a challenging course load while running a small business. His perseverance and hard work earned him a 4.0 GPA, and he plans to transfer to UMass for his bachelor’s degree. Michael credits his success to the support of his professors and his own determination, proving that it’s never too late to take a chance and pursue your dreams.

Michael Morse Spotlight

Jessica Hall had worked in both the corporate world and in family childcare for many years when the realization came to her: It was time to get back to school. The Commonwealth had just announced its Career Pathways grant, so her timing was excellent — but she got off to a bit of a false start.

Jessica Hall Spotlight

For most college students, walking across the state at graduation is joyous. For Julia Hannigan '25, it was monumental. Five years ago, during the height of COVID-19, Julia broke her foot. That event started a chain reaction that changed her life. The broken foot required surgery, and the recovery included wearing a walking boot. The awkward imbalance caused Julia to throw her back out. Things went from bad to worse quickly.

Julia Hannigan Spotlight

Forty Under 40

The 2025 40 Under Forty Awards celebrated 40 exceptional young leaders who are making the Berkshires a better, stronger, and more inclusive place to live and work.

With the generosity of Mill Town Foundation, each honoree received $1,000 to donate to a Berkshire-based nonprofit of their choice, extending the spirit of giving even further.

Proceeds from this year's event, totaling more than $20,000, supported Workforce and Community Education Programs at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, helping to train and uplift individuals across our region.

This event — and its impact — would not be possible without our generous sponsors, donors, and supporters. Thank you for investing in our community's future.

Forty Under 40

Dr. Noe Ortega, 2025 Commencement Keynote Speaker

Commissioner Ortega was appointed Massachusetts Commissioner of Higher Education in 2022 and has since guided the Department of Higher Education through an era of historic investment in public higher education. Under his leadership, the Commonwealth has made bold strides in affordability and access, including making community college free for all residents and expanding financial aid across public colleges and universities.

Throughout his career, Commissioner Ortega has championed equity and access in higher education. From early work in financial aid and enrollment management in Texas, to academic roles at the University of Michigan, to leading statewide efforts in Pennsylvania and now Massachusetts, his focus has consistently been on closing opportunity gaps and advancing student success for historically underserved populations.