BUTLER TWP — The Butler County Community College’s Pioneer Proud Campaign has exceeded its goal with the end set for June 30, according to an announcement by Campaign co-chairmen Bob Hunter and Nancy Hunter Mycka.

The capital campaign is the college’s second ever and began in the fall of 2013. The campaign aimed to raise $5.5 million in donations.

To date, the campaign has raised $6.5 million that will assist in three main projects: renovating the library, sustaining student access and success and supporting economic development.

The campaign was launched by the BC3 Education Foundation and began with a “quiet phase” that focused on increasing private investments. The second part of the campaign kicked off in September 2015, with the college accepting donations from the community to raise the final $500,000.

From the money raised, $2.5 million was designated to go toward the renovation of the John A. Beck Library, which is being renovated into the Heaton Family Learning Commons after local real estate developer Robert Heaton donated $1 million to the project.

That donation is the largest the college has received in its 50 year history, and the learning commons will open in the fall.

Another $1.5 million from the campaign will be to sustain student access and success by providing scholarships and developing innovation in education. Since the campaign began in 2013, 50 new scholarships and funds have been established, and BC3 has been able to increase initiatives like College Within the High School.

One of the most notable scholarships created is the Volunteer Firefighter Scholarship, which was endowed at $250,000.

The final $1.5 million from the campaign will support economic development by working with local industry to create new technologies and curriculum and by developing a new Allied Health and Workforce Development facility.

The extra $1 million raised will be used for student success, specifically for a renovation of the Children’s Creative Learning Center, according to Jessica Matonak, interim director of communications and marketing.

The last college fundraising campaign was in 1999, raising about $3.5 million to build the Science and Technology building.