BCC 48th Commencement Set For Friday At Tanglewood
Berkshire Community College will hold its 48th Commencement ceremony Friday afternoon, May 30, beginning at 4:30 in Lenox at Tanglewood. During the ceremony, which is open to the public, the college plans to award 308 associate degrees and certificates to 300 students in 25 areas of study.Massachusetts Department of Higher Education Commissioner Dr. Patricia Plummer will deliver the keynote address (see note following this release). State Senator Benjamin Downing, State Representative William “Smitty” Pignatelli, and Pittsfield Mayor James Ruberto will deliver greetings to the graduating class.
Dr. Frances Feinerman, dean of academic affairs, will introduce the class valedictorian, Laura Saldarini, a 47-year-old elementary school employee who plays the organ in church and a bass guitar in a rock-n-roll band. Michael Bullock, dean of student affairs and enrollment services, will introduce the alumni speaker, Emily Nichols from the Class of 2006, who went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Emerson College and currently works as an account manager for a public relations firm in Boston.
David Phelps, President of Berkshire Health Systems, will receive the Berkshire Community College President’s Award from BCC President Dr. Paul Raverta, who will also provide opening remarks and conduct the ceremony. Susan Lombard, board chair, will deliver greetings from the BCC board of trustees and confer the degrees.
Members of the Berkshire Highlanders will provide the music for the processional and recessional. The National Anthem will be sung by Berkapella, BCC’s a cappella singing group.
Program advisors will award associate degrees to graduating students in business administration and business careers, business software and computer information systems, criminal justice, engineering and engineering technology, environmental science, fine arts, fire and health science, hospitality administration, human services, liberal arts, and nursing.
Certificates will be awarded in animal care, business software, complementary care, computer information systems programming, culinary arts, early childhood education, human services, physical fitness, and practical nursing.
In addition to traditional-aged students and nontraditional students such as Saldarini, this year’s graduating class includes a student from China, a refugee from Vietnam, a grandmother raising several adopted children, and a blind student who completed two teaching placements during her studies.
