Ray Steffler, chairman of the board of trustees at Butler County Community College, was moved to tears reading about the deaths of three Seneca Valley High School seniors on Jan. 26.

But when he saw that at least one of them planned to attend BC3 this fall, he decided to act upon his emotion.

Steffler donated $500 for a one-time scholarship to be presented to a 2010 Seneca Valley graduate who enrolls at the college this fall. The scholarship will be in memory of the three teens, Sam Bucci, Elijah Lunsford and Trevor Barkley, who drowned when the SUV Lunsford was driving slid off an icy dirt road in Jackson Township and into a frozen lake.

Steffler said at least two of the young men had trained at the college's fire safety school. Bucci and Barkley were firefighters with the Zelienople Volunteer Fire Department, and Lunsford planned to sign up as well.

"The thing that struck me is these young kids, they had it figured out," Steffler said. "They gave back to the community where they lived. So I figured I would make the sacrifice and put up $500 in their memory."

Steffler said he has challenged other leaders at the college to donate to the scholarship, which can receive donations until Seneca Valley's graduation.

One who responded is Francie Spigelmyer, vice president of academic affairs at BC3.

Spigelmyer; her husband, David, and their son, John, will match Steffler's donation. John is a Seneca Valley senior and was a friend of Lunsford's.

"If there's anything good that can come of this, like someone being educated, then we wanted to help with that," Francie Spigelmyer said. "It's just a way to honor these kids. They were obviously great kids."

Ruth Purcell, director of BC3's educational foundation, said several people have called about adding to the scholarship. She said she is not surprised the scholarship was initiated by Steffler.

"I think Ray is terrific for doing this totally unsolicited," Purcell said. "To think of something like that and immediately act on it? Ray is just terrific."

Steffler said he is talking with Seneca Valley Superintendent Donald Tylinski regarding how to choose the scholarship recipient and what type of scholarship it will be. He said the boys' families could be involved in the decision if they so choose.

Steffler said although it is planned to be a one-time distribution, he does have some pie-in-the-sky aspirations.

"Maybe someone will donate $10,000 and we can collect (interest) and make the scholarship an annual one," Steffler said.

Anyone can contribute to the memorial scholarship. To do so, call the foundation at 724-287-8711, Ext. 8326.