College Internship Program

Discover Synchronicity, a vibrant new exhibition by twin sisters Alison Ciarlante and Liz Fecteau, now on display at the Good Purpose Gallery through July 14.

Drawing inspiration from color, texture, nature, and creative connection, Alison's signature dot-painted mandalas and Peace Rocks complement Liz's expressive mixed-media, encaustic, and abstract works.

Together, their art celebrates joy, curiosity, and the beauty of shared creativity.

📍Good Purpose Gallery
40 Main St #1, Lee, MA 01238

Stop by and experience this inspiring collection before July 14!

About the artists:

Alison Ciarlante is a full-time artist living in Woodstock, CT. She paints on rocks and canvas using a dotillism technique and acrylic paint. She has won various awards for her paintings.

Her love of mandalas has inspired her to capture the magic of pattern, color, and texture in her art.

What makes Alison truly unique is her dedication to spreading peace through her hand-painted Peace Rocks. She has painted and spread over 20,333 Peace Rocks since 2009. These one-of-a-kind works of art have been spread throughout the world.

The basic idea of her artwork is to bring joyful whimsy into the world.
Through bright colors and a dot technique she creates artwork that
expresses the magic of life, and the world around her.

The ideas for her art come from animals, trees, and nature, and its expression is inspired by mandalas and other geometric symbols. The use of dots in her artwork emerged from her love of pointillism. Painting dots is fun and helps her feel more peaceful. Acrylic paint is her medium of choice because of its texture and quick drying time.

Elizabeth “Liz” Fecteau is a Connecticut based artist whose work explores
color, texture, movement, and emotional connection through a variety of mediums including oils, acrylic and encaustic painting. Guided by the belief that art is for everyone, her work balances playful creativity with moments of reflection and intuition.

Alongside her personal studio practice, Liz is the founder of Starlizzie Studios and North Star Gallery, creative spaces designed to inspire both emerging and experienced artists through classes, workshops, exhibitions, and community-centered events. Teaching and creating have become deeply connected parts of her artistic journey, allowing her to share not only finished artwork, but the creative process itself.

Whether through layered encaustic surfaces, expressive mixed media, or collaborative experiences, Liz hopes her work invites curiosity, joy, and a
sense of creative possibility.

Happy Pride! 🌈 Here's to living authentically, loving openly, and celebrating the courage to be your true self. Together we embrace inclusion, honor diversity, and create communities where everyone belongs.

CIP Berkshire students stepped back in time and embraced adventure during their Spring Engagement Trip to Lake George, NY!

From exploring the charming streets of Lake George Village to enjoying a luncheon cruise aboard the historic Lac du Saint Sacrement steamship, students made unforgettable memories along the way. The voyage carried students up the lake to the Narrows and back, offering breathtaking views, fresh air, and plenty of fun — including a dance competition where one of our students took home the win!

Students also enjoyed hiking scenic trails, relaxing at Battlefield State Park, exploring the historic Fort William Henry (featured in the film 'Last of the Mohicans'), spending time at the beach, and playing a round at Around the World Mini Golf.

Throughout the trip students had the opportunity to choose the activities they wanted to participate in alongside peers of their choice, encouraging connection, independence, and shared experiences.

Wishing everyone a meaningful Memorial Day as we honor and remember those who sacrificed in service to our country.

🎨 The results are in! 🎨

We are thrilled to announce the top 3 winning art pieces for this year’s National Art Show, as selected by our panel of judges. Please join us in celebrating these incredibly talented artists! 🎉

First Place: "The Grid of Diversity" by Dash F. (Berkshire Center)

Second Place: "A Flower's Flourishing Phase" by Nick G. (Long Beach Center)

Third Place: "Color Block" by Kim B. (Berkshire Center)

Our judges rated each piece based on quality, effort, vision, and originality through a completely blind judging process (they had no idea which CIP center each piece came from).

A huge thank you to this year's judges:

Michael McManmon – CIP Founder and Artist

Jodi Drury – CIP National Director of Curriculum and Training

Thea Knapp Baker – Professional Artist

Want to see them in person? The winning pieces are currently on display at .

Don't wait—the show only runs until next Tuesday, May 26th!

CIP was excited to attend and support the 2026 IECA Annual Conference as IECA celebrates its 50th Anniversary!

Representing CIP at this year’s conference were our Director of Program Operations Michele Ramsay, Ed.D., Admissions Director Kevin Broeckling, Ed.D., and CIP Berkshire Program Director Matthew Kosiorek.

It was wonderful connecting with colleagues, sharing ideas, and continuing conversations around supporting students in their transition to college and beyond.

Congratulations to IECA on 50 years of impact and leadership in the field!

IECA--Independent Educational Consultants Association

In honor of Earth Week this past April, CIP Berkeley students took part in a neighborhood clean-up, collecting bags of litter from local streets and green spaces.

What started as a volunteer activity quickly became a favorite, with several students asking to make community clean-ups a regular part of our walking modules. Small acts of service can make a big impact!

Wishing a very Happy Mother’s Day to all of the incredible moms, mother figures, and caregivers whose love, support, and encouragement make such a meaningful difference every day. Thank you for all that you do!