Students, alumni and friends of Butler County Community College have reasons for being both excited and hopeful in response to the appointment of Nick Neupauer as the college's new president.

Neupauer knows the college well, understands its direction and has solid ideas for moving the institution forward.

His roots in the region — he is a native of Ellwood City — give him a great perspective of the parameters to which the school should be extending and the things that need to happen to allow the college to continue to serve its students and the community.

Outgoing President Cynthia Azari, whose final day at BC3 will be July 31, will be leaving the school in great shape for Neupauer's ascendancy to the college's top administrative job. It is to be hoped that she achieves similar successes at her new college vice chancellor role in Fresno, Calif.

An indication of Neupauer's talent and the confidence he has generated in his abilities since coming to BC3 in 1999 came via the board of trustees' decision not to institute a search process for a new president. This marks the first time the college has skipped naming an interim president and conducting a formal presidential search.

When he joined the college about eight years ago, Neupauer filled the role of dean for Humanities and Social Sciences. He was serving as vice president of academic affairs Wednesday when the trustees voted to appoint him as the college's eighth president.

His sound working relationship with the trustees during his tenure at the school also was a basis for his appointment. While much of his work has been centered on the academic side of the higher-education process, his experience in making budget decisions and dealing with other aspects of the business side of the college made him a well-rounded candidate suitable for the top role.

The board of trustees and BC3 students present and future can feel hopeful about Neupauer's overall vision for the college. Not only is he plugged in to what he sees as a need for more lab-type classes; he also understands the need for, and importance of, employing state funding resources to provide additional high-priority programs, as well as improve such programs already in place on the campus.

"There's a lot of exciting things going on here," Neupauer said, noting the building of a student service center and expansion of the college into Lawrence County.

For the campus community, there is satisfaction in not having to endure months of uncertainty over who would take over the college's reins and what direction that person would take upon arriving here.

Neupauer has been a good fit for BC3 since coming to the college and now, at age 40, he has the opportunity to advance the college to what is commonly referred to as "the next level" — along the way, making a long-term, positive mark on the school.

He deserves support and best wishes as he prepares to embark on his important new duties and role in the community.