Spotlights

College-level study can be difficult for anyone, but when English isn't your first language, it can be even tougher. That was initially the case for Clara Guatta-Cescuni, who was born in the Berkshires but raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Now poised to graduate with a music degree, Clara has come a long way since first learning to study in English instead of her native Spanish.

"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.

"Our students are filling a need. If you look within a 50-mile radius, there are probably at least 25 or 30 open positions," says Maggie Goss, Assistant Professor of Respiratory Care. "There aren't many jobs out there where you can come out of school with a two-year associate degree and your starting salary is $65,000 to $70,000+ a year."

"I've always understood education as the best investment we can make in people. My parents instilled that in me," says Julia Bowen, Board of Trustees. Her father was the chair of her school committee, her mother was a teacher, and her grandmother was a teacher." Once given, education can't be taken away. It's an evergreen investment in a person."

"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."