Spotlights

Benjamin Eshun arrived in America three years ago from Ghana with his mother and two siblings. He was enrolled at Pittsfield High School, which he describes as a "culture shock" at first. Still looking for his way, he saw an opportunity when BCC representatives visited the school and explained how easy it is to apply.

"What I found at BCC was a home, a haven, a family and a community that was supportive, and a learning environment that was conducive for me to explore and do well," says Jessica Levy, an adjunct chemistry professor at BCC and a 2019 graduate. It was a path she hadn't planned on, but she now finds herself in an ideal place.

"I myself wasn't really confident until my experience at community college, when I realized, 'Oh, I can do this.' I love seeing that moment with my students," says Assistant Professor of Communication, Mary Dickman, now in their fourth year at BCC. "It is truly doable. They discover they're more capable than they thought they were."

When Leslie Setterholm Curtis thinks about the importance of supporting education, she thinks about her father. A child of the Depression, her dad believed in both vocational education and higher academic studies. Those strongly held beliefs helped shape Leslie’s passion for philanthropic giving, along with practical considerations.

"When I arrived to the area, my only family was my husband and his mother," says Workforce program manager Tiffany Moreno, who knows a thing or two about taking opportunities when they present themselves. "I always tell my students that you never know where life will take you. Don't be afraid to take risks — just put yourself out there."