BC3 toasts to the future at 60th anniversary event
BUTLER TWP — With Butler County Community College crossing its 60th anniversary, all eyes are now on what the next 60 for the college will look like.
For BC3 administrators, alumni and supporters alike, their vision of the future doesn’t stray far from the college of today. Instead, it continues to lean on the community that supports it and it serves in turn.
On Wednesday, March 4, the college hosted “A Toast to What’s Next,” an event that served to both celebrate the 60 years of history behind the institution and peer ahead at the core tenets the school will uphold.
College President Megan Coval and a few notable alumni and community partners gave speeches at the event to share their perspectives.
“BC3 has always been more than a college or more than a name. I think for a lot of people living in this community, BC3 really has been a living thing,” Coval said.
She said the college is proud of its history but is “equally ambitious, energized and clear-eyed” about where the college is headed next. To that end, she introduced a new effort aimed at improving the student experience, improving community experience and advancing workforce innovation.
“Together, these three priorities strengthen BC3’s ability to support the community and will lead to regional vitality for decades to come,” she said.
Coval also acknowledged early donors to the program alongside the county government’s continued support of the college. She also thanked trustee Glenn Miller, who died in January, for his support.
“Moments like this remind us that BC3 has always been sustained by people in this community. And for many of us, that connection is really deep,” she said.
Tony Shakely, chair of the BC3 Education Foundation, shared his experience attending the school and how those educated by the college serve as a backbone for the community.
“As a community member, I’ve seen the impact of BC3 throughout all of Western Pennsylvania. Wonderful people who started their journeys here are now leading our local government; owning and managing businesses here in Butler; and I’m pretty sure you can’t set foot in a hospital in Western Pennsylvania without being taken care of by one of our exceptional nurses,” he said.
Common Pleas Judge John Scialabba recounted his own time at BC3 before thanking the school. He said he gives thanks to the school for the life he has lived thus far.
“This program and BC3, you guys take the shirts off your backs to help people,” he said.
Mark Gordon, county chief of development and planning, congratulated the college on “60 years of excellence.”
“This word reflects what the community college does best, meaning real community needs, strengthening our workforce, supporting the systems and keeping our region safe and strong,” he said.
Gail Paserba, a trustee and chair of the college’s 60th anniversary committee, shared how her family got involved in the college in the first place. She ended it by saying that the college thrives due to commitment.
“We’ve done that here — our wish and our desire is to keep doing this. So at the 100-year anniversary, they can look back and talk about all of our commitment,” she said.
