Fifty-year anniversary celebrations kicked off Tuesday at Butler County Community College with a group shot of about 300 students, staff and faculty forming “BC3” on the campus lawn. The event was filmed by a drone and appears on the monitor.

BUTLER TWP — You could say the 50th anniversary celebrations at Butler County Community College kicked off with a whir.

About 300 students, staff, and faculty wearing blue T-shirts stood on the front lawn of the campus Tuesday afternoon, shaping the letters “BC3” in 40-foot outline. Meanwhile, a drone buzzed above the crowd, capturing photographs and video.

It was the first of several events to take place on campus this school year since March 2015 will mark the 50th anniversary of the college's founding.

Each participant in the crowd Tuesday also held a sheet of paper, waving it when prompted, creating a more animated video from above.

“It really makes me proud,” said Nick Neupauer, BC3 president, who participated in the group photograph. “There seems to be this really nice buzz in the air.”

Fliers were placed around campus asking for students to participate, and Picture This Media came with the drone to shoot the videos and photographs.

Dennis Birkes, Web manager at BC3, took hours to design the outline of huge letters to exactly replicate the font type that the college uses, and then spray paint them onto the grass.

BC3 has several events planned for students, staff and alumni to celebrate the milestone during the school year.

On Oct. 10, there will be a Pioneer Proud Night and barbecue on campus.

During the week of Halloween, students will have the opportunity to dress in outfits from the different decades that the college has been in existence: The 1960s on Oct. 27, the 1970s on Oct. 28, the 1980s on Oct. 29, the 1990s on Oct. 30, and in Halloween costumes on Oct. 31.

More events are planned, but they are still being finalized.