BUTLER TWP — The Butler County Community College received its second gift of $1 million in its history, as announced at Wednesday's board of trustees meeting.

The gift to the Pioneer Proud Campaign was made by John L. Wise III, the vice president and treasurer of the Butler Eagle, and family in memory of his sister, Amy Wise.

Ruth Purcell, the executive director of the BC3 Education Foundation Inc. said the gift means the Pioneer Proud Campaign has raised $6.8 million.

The private gift will be matched by a capital grant from the state, and the roughly $2 million will fund an expansion of the Children's Creative Learning Center, a preschool and child care center for children of BC3 students, employees and community members.

The expansion is expected to double the size of the current center, according to a press release.

“We are honored that the Wise family has chosen BC3 to pay tribute to Amy (Wise),” said President Nick Neupauer. “We believe that our child care program reflects the values that Amy held dear — that children learn best when allowed to explore and discover at their own pace. This is a wonderful legacy gift.”

Amy Wise had a lifelong passion for early childhood education and developing a love of nature in young students. From 1994 to 2012, Amy was the head teacher at Poker Hill School in Underhill, Vt. Her teaching experience also included the Community College of Vermont and Trinity College. In 2006, Amy was awarded the Vermont Governor's Award for Outstanding Community Service.

John L. Wise III's father, the late John L. Wise Jr., was a leading advocate of establishing a community college in Butler and served on the original BC3 board of trustees.