“It blew me away. It’s not something that we were expecting.”
(Butler, PA) Prospective students and their families can explore the latest hands-on learning environments at Butler County Community College, examine two-year associate degree and short-term certificate programs and discover how they can minimize or avoid higher education debt during Pioneer Night on April 9.
The college will waive its $25 application fee during the event, scheduled for 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on BC3’s main campus, 107 College Drive, Butler Township. Prospective students can RSVP at bc3.edu/open-house.
Prospective students envisioning a career in education can tour the 1,735-square-foot Dr. Robert L. Paserba Teaching and Learning Lab that debuted March 17.
“It blew me away,” said Emily Eichner, a 20-year-old early childhood education (Pre K-4) student from Saxonburg. “It’s not something that we were expecting.”
The lab’s centerpiece replicates an elementary school classroom and allows for students to experiment with lesson plans, desk groupings and material layouts.
“I like that BC3 is taking that hands-on approach because it will really help,” Eichner said. “It gives us that experience. We can actually take what we learn and apply it ourselves instead of just seeing and hearing about it.”
“I wanted to go to a school that had up-to-date technology and resources for us to use that were similar to what you would see in a hospital or clinical setting. … BC3 is top tier.”
Those seeking a career in health care can visit the 25,000-square-foot Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building that opened in August 2023.
The facility includes skills laboratories and affords students with hands-on experience through simulated intensive care-unit and patient rooms.
“I wanted to go to a school that had up-to-date technology and resources for us to use that were similar to what you would see in a hospital or clinical setting,” said Courtney Adamosky, a 21-year-old BC3 registered nursing student from Butler.
“You’re getting that practice before you’re actually stepping out into the hospital setting so you feel more prepared and more confident in your hands-on skills. BC3 is top tier.”
Prospective students can learn about BC3’s programs in business and information technology; education and behavioral sciences; liberal arts; the Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health; and in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“You’re not just sitting and listening. You’re interacting with the surroundings and gaining that practical experience so that when you have an internship, or transfer, or go into the workforce, you already have experience.”
BC3 students and faculty will be available at Pioneer Night to discuss with guests the benefits of practical experiences in a number of programs, according to Amy Pignatore, dean of admissions and the college registrar.
“They will showcase those opportunities and the different programs that we have here at BC3,” Pignatore said. “It’s not just the theoretical. It is the application of book learning or the classroom experience.
“You’re not just sitting and listening. You’re interacting with the surroundings and gaining that practical experience so that when you have an internship, or transfer, or go into the workforce, you already have experience.”
Students can transfer BC3’s credits 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.
Pioneer Night guests can also inquire about the college’s student clubs, organizations and activities; support services such as free tutoring; and about athletics programs that have won 87 conference or regional titles and produced 38 All-American awards.
Guests can also review BC3’s affordability, financial aid options and scholarship opportunities, which allowed 68 percent of its Class of 2024 to graduate debt-free.
“You don’t want to graduate with $30,000 or $40,000 of debt,” Pignatore said.
“Consider the finances. If you can get an associate degree – or the first half of your bachelor’s degree – at a lower cost point, why wouldn’t you take advantage of that?”
Tuition and fees for Butler County residents taking 15 credits through in-person courses this fall at BC3 are projected to cost $3,105, according to Jake Friel, the college’s vice president for administration and finance.
Tuition and fees for a full-time student for one semester at regional public or private four-year colleges and universities range from at least $5,253 to $19,735, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics.
Butler County residents attending BC3 in 2025-2026 can receive up to $10,161 in federal and state grants, according to Juli Louttit, the college’s director of student financial services.
The BC3 Education Foundation in the 2024-2025 academic year awarded 158 scholarships to BC3 students ranging from $500 to $5,000, according to Bobbi Jo Cornetti, the foundation’s development coordinator.
“You don’t want to graduate with $30,000 or $40,000 of debt. Consider the finances. If you can get an associate degree – or the first half of your bachelor’s degree – at a lower cost point, why wouldn’t you take advantage of that?”
Registered students beginning April 15 can apply for a scholarship for the 2025-2026 academic year at bc3.edu/scholarships.
The college this fall will add technical trades-cosmetology management option to its selection of 14 associate degree or certificate programs that can be completed virtually.
BC3’s fall semester begins Aug. 25.
