Williams Graduates Local Students

07:37PM / Monday, June 03, 2013Print Story | Email Story

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Williams College President Adam F. Falk today conferred bachelor of arts degrees on 16 local graduates at the college's 224th commencement on Sunday, June 2.

The graduates are:

Deena Rene Bak, daughter of Terry Bak of Cheshire and Richard Bak of Lanesborough. Bak graduated cum laude with a major in art. She was active with the Williams College Museum of Art, serving as president the Student Advisory Board, as a museum associate tour guide, a member of the Arts and Communications Advisory Committee, an instructor for the museum's "Drop in Drawing" program and as ateaching assistant in studio art. She won a Berkshire Art Association Fellowship. Bak also captained the equestrian team, earning an Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Academic Achievement Award, and participated in water polo.	Miranda Lynn Bona, daughter of Thomas and Kristin Bona of Clarksburg, graduated with honors in geosciences. She was elected to the scientific honor society Sigma Xi and was a Class of 1957 Scholar in Geosciences. She also was a nominee for Outstanding Student Paper at the American Geophysical Union's 2012 Fall Conference.	Nathaniel Heatherington Finan, son of Keith Finan and Laurie Heatherington of Williamstown, majored in psychology. He played varsity soccer and was named Second Team All-American and Second Team All-NESCAC. He served on the Student Athletic Advisory Committee and was a TeamEph Orientation leader.	Emmanuel Joshua Whyte of Bennington, Vt., son of Antares McDonald, majored with honors in both art and psychology. He won a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship and the Fulkerson Award for Leadership in the Arts, was elected to the scientific honor society Sigma Xi and was a Class of 1960 Scholar in Psychology. He interned in the director's office of the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute and was an assistant teacher for the Clark's RAISE program, instructor for the One-Hour "Drop-In Drawing" program at the Williams College Museum of Art, and a teacher's assistant in painting. He also was a founder and co-president of the Psychology Journal Club, member of the Psychology Department Student Liaison Committee, and co-editor and group coordinator of the Sketchbook Club.
	Robert Daniel Hackett of Great Barrington, son of Lisa Bozzuto of Great Barrington and Grant Hackett of Yellow Springs, Ohio, graduated cum laude and majored in environmental policy and philosophy.	Kimberly Marie Holachek of Williamstown majored in psychology and women's, gender and sexuality studies.
James David Nolan, son of Jim and Cathy Nolan of Williamstown, graduated magna cum laude and majored in philosophy. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and chosen to be the Phi Beta Kappa speaker at commencement. He also won the Muriel B. Rose Prize.	Zane K. Martin of Housatonic, son of James Martin and Jessica Holmes, gradauted magna cum laude and majored with honors in mathematics. Elected to Phi Beta Kappa and to the scientific honor society Sigma Xi, he also won the Olga R. Beaver Memorial Prize in Mathematics. He attained honorable mention in the National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship competition. He also attended the Williams-Exeter Programme at Oxford, served on the Student Math and Stats Advisory Board, and participated in the student theater group Cap and Bells.	Jenay Elise Haskins, daughter of Julieann and Steven Haskins of Williamstown, majored in classics and psychology. She was a leader of the Rape and Sexual Assault Network, head Baxter Fellow of Dodd Neighborhood, and an assistant in both the offices of alumni relations and admission.	Ashley Rose Meczywor, daughter of Anne and Jeff Meczywor of Lenox, majored in psychology and theater. She participated in the student theater group Cap and Bells and performance group Dance Dhamaka, worked in the theater scene shop and was an admissions office tour guide.
Emily Anne Ury of Great Barrington, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ury, majored in chemistry.		Eleanor Piraino Fitz Randolph of Richmond, daughter of Diane Piraino and Ten Randolph, majored in comparative literature.	Cary DeForest White, son of Robert and Kaatje White of Williamstown, majored in American studies. He was a junior adviser and played rugby.
Ian McKee Nesbitt, son of Beth and Dick Nesbitt of Williamstown, majored with honors in geosciences. He was elected to the scientific honor society Sigma Xi and was a Class of 1960 Scholar in Geosciences. He also was a member of the Nordic ski and cycling teams and an administrator of Williams Students Online. He won an NCAA All-Academic Award and NESCAC All-Academic Award.	Karlan K. Eberhardt of Bennington, Vt., son of Silvio Eberhardt of Arlington, Va., and Lois Banta of Bennington, majored in computer science. He was a Class of 1962 Scholar and performed in the Irish dance group Inish and student theater group Cap and Bells. He also olunteered for the Williamstown Fire Department and Village Ambulance Service.	Evan E.F. Grillon of Windsor, son of Albert Grillon and Lee Flournoy, majored in philosophy. He won the Bullock Poetry Prize of the American Academy of Poets, was a junior adviser to the class of 2015 and played on the ultimate Frisbee team.

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Free Water Safety Program for Berkshire Middle Schoolers

12:00PM / Thursday, April 10, 2025

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A collaborative effort involving the Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center (GABCC), the Berkshire Family YMCA (BFYMCA), Linda Dulye of Dulye & Co., and Pittsfield Public Schools (PPS) has launched the Stop Youth Drowning: Safe Swim Berkshire Initiative.

This pilot program will offer free water safety instruction to middle school students during the 2025 spring break.

The program aims to address an increase in youth drownings in Berkshire County by providing essential water safety skills and knowledge. Instruction will be led by trained aquatic professionals at both the GABCC and BFYMCA, with half of the participants attending sessions at each location. Participants will receive swimsuits and daily lunch in a supervised environment. The program also intends to encourage participants to become peer advocates for water safety.

Jennifer Roccabruna, a Physical Education teacher at Pittsfield Public Schools, assisted with student recruitment and family communication. Pittsfield Public Schools provided logistical support for the pilot program.

The initiative was inspired by the drowning of a local young woman during a school trip in the summer of 2024. Linda Dulye is providing funding for the program in her memory.

According to Dulye, the program aims to build confidence and competence in and around water for young people, as well as provide opportunities for leadership and peer advocacy in safety.

"I instantly felt the need to take action. I approached the Y and Gladys Allen leadership with the idea to help our community’s youth build confidence and competence around water. These are life-saving skills—and they also give young people the chance to grow as leaders and peer advocates for safety, inspiring others to shed fears and learn to swim," said Dulye.

Aquatics professionals Prashad Abeysinghe (GABCC) and Claire Langlois (BFYMCA), along with Jennifer Roccabruna, designed the program's curriculum, which emphasizes safety, skill-building, and youth empowerment.

The GABCC stated that the program aims to reach middle school students who may miss out on traditional swim lessons, providing them with critical water safety skills and the opportunity to become safety advocates.

Jennifer Roccabruna emphasized the collaborative effort of the partners involved in making the program possible.

"We believe no child should lose their life due to a lack of access to water safety education," said Roccabruna. "This program empowers youth with the knowledge and skills to stay safe and support one another—and it’s all thanks to a powerful team of partners who care deeply about our young people."

The Stop Youth Drowning: Berkshire Initiative seeks to expand beyond the pilot program to reach more youth and remove barriers to water safety education. The organizers are inviting local leaders and philanthropists to support the initiative.

Individuals interested in getting involved can contact Jennifer Roccabruna at jroccabruna2@pittsfield.net.

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