Margo Barr, of Butler, received three scholarships totaling $1,715 from the BC3 Education Foundation for the 2024-2025 academic year. The psychology major is shown Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, on BC3’s main campus in Butler Township. Submitted photo

The Butler County Community College Education Foundation will have the most named scholarships in its 40-year history in the 2025-26 academic year.

The debut of five awards will bring the number of scholarships to 164, which will be administered by the BC3 Education Foundation. Scholarships have been established by businesses, college alumni and employees; fraternal and other nonprofit organizations; and private individuals.

“I think people believe in BC3,” said Tony Shakely, chair of the BC3 Education Foundation board. “There is a track record of success there.”

Bobbi Jo Cornetti is development coordinator of the foundation, whose number of named scholarships has increased 42% and its amounts awarded 46% since fall 2015.

“People have ties to BC3 and want to give back to the college and to the students,” Cornetti said. “We have really strong support. People reach out to us and want to know how they can better support our students.”

Students registered in fall 2025 associate degree, certificate or workplace certificate programs can view scholarships and complete one application at bc3.edu/scholarships from now until July 1, Cornetti said.

Financial awards are available to students attending any BC3 location, enrolled in online courses or in the college’s virtual programs, Cornetti said.

The BC3 Education Foundation in the 2024-2025 academic year awarded 158 scholarships totaling more than $240,000 to BC3 students living in Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean and Mercer counties.

The amount of the 164 scholarships available in 2025-2026 will be finalized in June, Cornetti said.

Financial awards for 2025-2026 will range from $300 to $5,000, and average $500, Cornetti said.

The BC3 Education Foundation was established in 1985 as a charitable organization that seeks and manages private gifts to support BC3 with student scholarships and other initiatives.

There will be about 30 scholarships available for registered nursing students, two for registered or practical nursing students and eight for student-veterans this fall semester.

Bill Foley is the coordinator of news and media content at Butler County Community College.