Join Bristol Community College for the annual Bristol Awards, an event honoring the efforts of an outstanding and inspiring group of alumni. The Bristol Awards event will be held on Friday, February 27, 2026, with a welcome reception at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and awards from 6:30 to 8 p.m., in the Commonwealth College Center (G building) on the Bristol Fall River Campus, 777 Elsbree Street.
The cost is $50 per person to attend. Sponsors can also purchase a table for up to eight guests. Please RSVP and register by Friday, February 13, 2026, by visiting www.bristolcc.edu/alumni/bristolawards, calling 774.357.2007 or mailing in checks payable to:
Bristol Community College Foundation
777 Elsbree Street, D109
Fall River, MA 02720
Attn: 2026 Bristol Awards
The Paragon Award is the most distinguished award given to a graduate of the college. Inspiring alumni will also be honored in the event’s annual categories, including the Distinguished Black or African American Award, Maury Kusinitz Volunteer of the Year Award, Championing Diversity and Inclusion Award, Alumna/us of the Year Award and the Alumni Service Award.
2026 Paragon Award Recipient: Constance Messier '96, of Little Compton, R.I.
Constance Messier is a proud graduate of Bristol Community College’s inaugural Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) class of 1996 and first-generation college graduate. She began her career as a certified occupational therapy assistant before continuing her education at Salem State University and earning her post-professional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from the Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions.
Constance joined Bristol’s Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program as an adjunct faculty member in 2010 and became the program’s chair in 2024. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated her dedication to enhancing the OTA program, including founding of the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) Forum, supporting the Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) and serving as a mentor to students, faculty and practitioners.
A hallmark of Constance’s leadership is her work developing community partnerships and connecting OTA students with valuable fieldwork placements and service-learning experiences that enrich student learning and community wellness.
2026 Maury Kusinitz Volunteer of the Year Award: Donna Cambra '21, of Fall River, Mass.
2026 Alumna of the Year Award: Jessica Coelho Arruda, of New Bedford, Mass.
2026 Championing Diversity and Inclusion Award: Kieran Doherty '24, of Attleboro, Mass.
2026 Distinguished Black or African American Award: Talos Farris, of Fall River, Mass.
2026 Alumni Service Award: Miriella Gonzalez '24, of New Bedford, Mass.
For more information about the 2026 Bristol Awards, please visit www.bristolcc.edu/alumni/bristolawards.