(Butler, PA) Twenty-year-old Lucas Ray has high expectations for himself “because I want to ensure the best future I can possibly have.”
Intends to become a psychiatrist. Graduated from high school with distinction. Accepted by public and private colleges and universities in Pennsylvania and elsewhere.
Chose Butler County Community College. Received four scholarships from the BC3 Education Foundation.
“Tuition is getting more and more expensive at colleges across the United States,” Ray said.
“That was my biggest concern when considering colleges. Having these scholarship opportunities can be completely life-saving for someone like me who doesn’t know whether they are going to be able to support the cost of their education in their future.”
Prospective students can learn about BC3’s scholarship opportunities, its selection of associate degree, and certificate and workplace certificate programs, and about its affordability during upcoming open houses.
BC3 @ Cranberry’s open house will be held at 250 Executive Drive, Cranberry Township, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday.
BC3’s main campus open house will be held at 107 College Drive, Butler Township, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 24.
BC3 will waive its $25 application fee for prospective students who apply for admission at an open house. Prospective students can RSVP at BC3.edu/open-house.
Visitors to BC3’s open houses can meet faculty and staff, tour classrooms and facilities, and review financial aid options and resources such as free tutoring.
The BC3 Education Foundation in 2022-2023 awarded a record $281,000 in scholarships to BC3 students such as Ray and this year had a record 155 named financial awards available.
"Having these scholarship opportunities can be completely life-saving for someone like me who doesn’t know whether they are going to be able to support the cost of their education in their future.”
BC3 scholarships “an incredible relief”
Ray, of Butler, earned high honor or honor roll recognition “every single period” in Grades 7 through 12 as a student in the Butler Area School District. He graduated in the Top 10 percent of his class and with distinction, a recognition for those with a final grade-point average of at least 4.3.
The average student-loan debt per borrower in Pennsylvania is $38,521, according to a June 14 report by LendEDU, a website that provides comparisons for loans, credit cards and other financial products.
“Because I knew I could go to BC3 either completely debt-free,” Ray said, “or very close to debt-free, made a difference in my decision.”
Ray expects to graduate from BC3 debt-free in May. The psychology student intends to transfer to the University of Pittsburgh to pursue a bachelor’s degree in applied developmental psychology and later, pursue attend medical school.
“Looking at my future past BC3, debt is a huge concern,” Ray said.
“The scholarships from BC3 are an incredible relief.”
“The best decision I could have made”
BC3’s affordability, and financial aid and scholarships, allowed 75 percent of its Class of 2023 to graduate debt-free.
Butler County residents attending BC3 this fall are paying $187 per credit in tuition and fees for an in-person course. They would pay at least $437.23 per credit in tuition and fees at a regional public four-year university or $582 at a regional state-related institution’s branch campus this fall.
Butler County residents attending BC3 this fall are paying $212 per credit in tuition and fees for an online course. They would pay at least $374.20 per credit in tuition and fees for an online course at a regional public four-year university or $620 at a regional state-related institution’s branch campus this fall.
BC3 students approved for federal and state grants will receive an average of $5,046 in the 2023-2024 academic year, according to Juli Louttit, the college’s director of financial aid.
BC3’s credits can be applied toward a bachelor’s degree at public, private and online four-year colleges and universities. Students in BC3’s career programs can develop the skills needed to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation.
Ray has received the $516 BC3 Alumni Legacy Scholarship, the $1,010 Melvin W. Wilson Scholarship and the $935 Daltorio Family Scholarship. He has also received a full-tuition waiver from the BC3 Education Foundation as a president’s scholar at the college.
“BC3,” Ray said, “is definitely the best decision I could have made. And it just keeps paying off.”
“BC3 is definitely the best decision I could have made. And it just keeps paying off.”
Gabriella Baxter, Sophia Linville and Mollie Street are general studies students who attend BC3 @ Cranberry and who also recently received BC3 Education Foundation scholarships.
Baxter received the $505 Soroptimist International of Butler County Scholarship; Linville, the $700 Ellwood City Wolves Club and $500 Victor L. Petro Memorial scholarships; and Street, the $500 Abby A. Mylin Memorial Scholarship.
Following their graduations from BC3, Baxter intends to transfer to Penn State University’s World Campus to pursue a bachelor’s degree in recreation, park and tourism management; and Linville and Street, to the University of Pittsburgh to pursue bachelor’s degrees in accounting.
