BUTLER TWP — Two emergency funds for student-military veterans at Butler County Community College have reached endowment status and are now perpetual, BC3 announced Monday.

The funds were created through American Legion Posts 778 and 117, and are used to help veteran students at BC3 deal with unexpected expenses that would otherwise impact their ability to attend the school. Endowment status means that both funds’ principal amounts have reached at least $10,000 and they are now self-sustaining.

Post 778’s fund was established in 2013 and hit endowment status on Jan. 13, It has helped students finance books, pay rent, make car repairs, pay for home heating and offset a late VA monthly payment.

Post 117’s fund was established in 2015 and reached endowment status on Jan. 20. It has helped students purchase books.

The college said that grants from the funds are capped at $1,000 per veteran, and recipients must be in good financial standing and have a grade-point average of at least 2.0 to receive an award.

Students must also be an honorably discharged veteran or current military member attending BC3, and the expenses must affect their ability to continue attending college.