Gov. Maura Healey, right, with Julian Hynes, Ja'liyah Santiago and Adniley Velez whose essay on inspiration was chosen as the winner of the student essay contest.
BOSTON — Gov. Maura Healey will hang an empty gold frame in her office so young people can envision themselves there one day and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, a portrait of former Gov. Jane Swift.
The unveiling on Wednesday was the result of a statewide student essay competition in which Bay State students were asked to decide whose portraits should be featured in the new administration's offices.
The student winners and their families were present for the event in the Governor's Ceremonial Office on Wednesday.
The gold frame in Healey's ceremonial office was proposed in a collaborative essay submitted by Julian Hynes, an 11th-grader at Amherst-Pelham Regional High School, and Ja'liyah Santiago and Adniley Velez, 8th-graders at Holyoke Community Charter School, titled "Inspiring Change and Dangerous Hope: Unequal Representation in the Commonwealth."
"Our proposal is to break from tradition, to hang nothing but an empty frame to remind you that there will be large groups of people that remain underrepresented, voiceless, and invisible," wrote the students. "Look forward not back for your inspiration. Look at the young, the poor, the people of color, and the ones who need the most help. Look at the empty frame and then around the table and ask, 'Who is not represented here?' Then, break free from the symbolic fetters that bind you and invite them."
"The State House is the People's House — and symbols matter. I was inspired by this submission from Julian, Ja'liyah and Adniley, who considered how they themselves could be the face of leadership in our state. This frame serves as a reminder of those who aren't always reflected or heard in the halls of power," said Healey. "When people come into this office, I want them to envision themselves in that frame. For me, it will remind me of the young people who are looking to our administration right now, and of our commitment to ensuring that all voices are heard."
The portrait of Swift was the choice of more than a dozen students, including Vane Jacobs, a ninth-grader from Swift's alma mater, Drury High School.
Swift, who attended the unveiling, was elected lieutenant governor in 1998 and rose to acting governor in 2001 when Gov. Paul Cellucci resigned to become U.S. ambassador to Canada. She was the first woman to serve as governor in Massachusetts history. She was instrumental in cementing Massachusetts' role as the nationwide leader in education and has continued her advocacy to strengthen our schools, in addition to transforming her family farm in Williamstown into an education and rescue center.
"Governor Healey and I have long been inspired by Governor Swift, and it was heartwarming to see so many students feel the same," said Driscoll. "She helped pave the way for us to serve as the first all-women team in Massachusetts history, and she inspired a lasting legacy of educational excellence in our state. I'm honored to hang her portrait in my office."
"We'd like to thank the more than 100 students who submitted thoughtful essays to this contest. It was certainly a hard decision to make, but we learned a lot from reading each one — and we know the students did too," said Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler. "We're grateful to all of the educators, administrators and family members who supported the students in submitting their essays and helped us get the word out about the contest."
Winners who wrote about former Gov. Jane Swift:
Lu-Anna Njinyah, eighth grader from Ayer Shirley Regional Middle School
Jake Stuppia, fourth-grader from Belmonte Steam Academy
Layla Keefe, first grader from Daniel B. Brunton Elementary School
Vane Jacobs, ninth grader from Drury High School
Leela Choudhury, sixth grader from F.A. Day Middle School
Joseph Pisani, 11th grader from Gateway Regional High School
Marissa Matthews, 11th grader from Hingham High School
Katie McGuinness, eighth grader from Lynnfield Middle School
Breonna Mody, seventh grader from Monomoy Regional Middle School
Emily Jamieson, fourth grader from Norman E. Day School
Bethany Luhrs, fourth grader from Norman E. Day School
Ace Madrigale, seventh grader from Plymouth Community Intermediate School
Heba Belyazid, fifth grader from Willard Elementary School Concord
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McCann Nursing Graduates Urged to Be 'Positive Influence' on Health System
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — McCann Technical School celebrated the graduation Tuesday of 17 new nurses from its licensed practical nursing program.
"I can say, without reservation, that I am incredibly proud of each and every one of these individuals before you," Christa Berthiaume, program coordinator and doctor of nursing practice, said to family and friends in the school gym. "This class has come together as family to support each other, grow, learn, laugh, and even cry together.
"Thank you for joining us this evening as we celebrate this accomplishment in their lives and thank you for providing the support and guidance that has fostered the success of these amazing people."
When they interviewed for the program last January, Berthiaume said she told the program would be hard but that they wouldn't understand until they had gone through it.
She asked them to think back of their first day —what they could do then and what they can do now.
"Throughout this year, we have seen so much growth in each of you. Whether it was overcoming the fear of a certain procedure, going to a clinical site that you were not exactly looking forward to, improving your critical thinking and clinical judgment, and yes, even your nursing-test-taking skills," she said. "The growth is immeasurable."
The 10-month, 1,155-hour program began in January and included clinical rotations on evenings and weekends. Many of the graduates were assured of jobs after taking their licensing exam as they were sponsored by entities such as Berkshire Health Systems and Integris Healthcare, which covered costs and paid them a salary.
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