Butler, PA- Butler County Commissioners Leslie Osche, Kimberly Geyer and Kevin Boozel on Wednesday recognized Butler County Community College’s back-to-back rankings as the No. 1 community college in Pennsylvania by presenting a proclamation to BC3 President Dr. Nick Neupauer during the board’s public meeting.
Neupauer, formerly of Ellwood City, is a 1985 graduate of Lincoln High School.
The 8.5-inch by 14-inch tan proclamation, enclosed in a navy blue folder stamped with the Commissioners’ Office, Butler County, PA crest, also lauded BC3 for 2017 accomplishments prior to the college being selected No. 1 again in October by Schools.com.
BC3 in 2017 was named by Victory Media as a Military Friendly institution for the fifth consecutive year; received praise from community groups for its nursing club attending events and distributing literature that identified regional treatment options available to those suffering from opioid addiction; and graduated its largest class of the century.
The college also celebrated the 20th anniversary of its Alumni Association and the success of Rho Phi, which attained the highest possible status in Phi Theta Kappa, a prestigious international academic honor society; and launched its traveling fire-prevention trailer program, which educated more than 570 children.
“I really appreciate what you have done for the college,” Boozel, a 1991 BC3 graduate, told Neupauer. BC3 has come far during Neupauer’s tenure as president, Boozel said, “and being an alum, I think it is a fantastic organization. … We expect great things in the future.”
Neupauer’s 11-year presidency at a single institution exceeds that of any current leader among Pennsylvania’s 13 other community colleges, its 14 State System of Higher Education institutions and its four state-related schools – Lincoln, Penn State and Temple universities, and the University of Pittsburgh.
Geyer, a 1984 BC3 graduate, has served as an ex officio BC3 trustee in her capacity as a Butler County commissioner since 2011.
“Thank you for the leadership you provide for this institution and for our county as a whole,” Geyer told Neupauer. “It is amazing … how involved BC3 is right here in the county. It’s such a blessing.”
Neupauer told the commissioners he appreciates their recognition and support.
“We are so proud of what we are doing,” Neupauer said. “It is a great time for community colleges. It’s our local connection to the communities that we serve, particularly in Butler County, that helped to make this possible.”
The proclamation further states that commissioners and all Butler County residents express congratulations and sincere gratitude to BC3 for its contributions to Butler County communities.
“I am blessed to work with wonderful individuals on our boards, on our faculty and on our staff at BC3,” Neupauer said. “You aren’t No. 1 in back-to-back rankings without that support. This group of commissioners has been so incredible and special to BC3, and is really a reason why we are No. 1 for a second consecutive time.”
BC3’s women’s basketball, softball, golf and volleyball teams won Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference championships in 2017, and produced two National Junior College Athletic Association All-Americans. Julia Baxter was named an All-American in women’s basketball and Nikki Houk, in softball. Houk’s .627 batting average also led players on 350 teams in all three NJCAA softball divisions.
In ranking BC3 No. 1 for a second time, Schools.com considered, among other factors, BC3’s cost of attendance, percentage of students enrolled in distance education, student-to-faculty ratio and number of transfer agreements with other institutions in Pennsylvania.
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