Start a Scholarship
Empower The Next Generation!
With over 160 funds awarding more than $230,000 to students annually, scholarships offered through the BC3 Education Foundation are a vital part of BC3's mission to prepare students for success through access to high quality education.
How to Start a Scholarship
The BC3 Education Foundation is proud to serve as the link between donors and students by establishing and administering BC3 scholarships. Foundation staff work with donors to create a scholarship name, criteria and award amounts. The BC3 Education Foundation also handles the awarding of scholarships.
Interested in starting a scholarship, or want more information?
Contact Bobbi Jo Cornetti, Development Coordinator, BC3 Education Foundation
BC3 Scholarship Program
The BC3 Education Foundation facilitates two types of scholarships: endowed and annual. Both scholarships may be named for the donor, or in memory or honor of a loved one. Donors may also determine eligibility criteria and awarding frequency.
Types of Scholarships
The donor commits to make an annual gift and that gift is awarded each year.
Annual scholarships are typically a minimum of $500, an amount that covers the cost of a three-credit class. An annual scholarship continues as long as the donor provides annual support. The award amount is based on the scholarship funds available on June 1. Scholarships are awarded in August for the academic year. Annual scholarship fund reminders are sent to donors each spring.
An Endowed Scholarship is permanent and will continue to provide an annual scholarship gift forever.
A minimum principal of $15,000 is required to endow a scholarship. The principal of an Endowed Scholarship is not spent and the annual scholarship award is paid from the earnings of the collective scholarship endowment. The annual payout percentage rate is established each year by the Foundation Board.
Once the principal is endowed for a year and has time to grow, annual awards are paid from the fund's earnings. The higher the principal, the higher the annual award. Capital gains are reinvested into the principal allowing it to grow.
Donors may establish the Endowed Scholarship right away or take from three to five years to reach the endowment amount. Donors also have the flexibility to create an annual scholarship and establish an endowed fund at the same time.
For more information on how students apply for scholarships and how recipients are chosen, visit the BC3 Scholarships application page.
Hear from Our Donors
“Mary Cranmer Huff, my mother and a proud registered nurse (RN), was my role model, and inspired me to create this scholarship in her name. I chose to encourage and support BC3 nursing students in their career choice because of the leadership examples and support provided to me from BC3 President, Dr. Nicholas Neupauer, and Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau President, Jack Cohen, during my career.”
– Conne McCormick, Scholarship Donor | Mary Cranmer Huff Scholarship Donor
Left to Right: Abigail Purvis – 2022-2023 Huff Scholarship Recipient; Conne McCormick
- Donor; Hailey Metzger – 2022-2023 Huff Scholarship Recipient
“We were inspired to start a scholarship to honor SPC R. McGinnis when we heard about his heroic actions, which saved the lives of four friends and fellow soldiers. Ross' parents suggested BC3 because it was local to where he grew up in Shippenville/Knox area. Supporting veterans attending BC3 is a way to show them that people care about their service to our country. Best of all, it continues Ross' legacy of helping his fellow soldiers.”
– Galynn Wilkins, US Army Veteran, Village to Village Foundation Donor | SPC Ross A. McGinnis ‘Pay a Good Deed Forward’ Scholarship
Left to Right: Galynn Wilkins & Diane Griest – Village to Village Foundation, Donors; Kelsey Warren - 2023-2024 McGinnis Scholarship Recipient; Romayne McGinnis & Tom McGinnis – Parents of Ross McGinnis, Donors
“The Susan E. Andre (SEA) '70 Scholarship is proud to have awarded its first five scholarships to BC3 students. It was inspiring to meet these students at the Oak Hills Luncheon and hear their stories about continuing their education. With the high costs of larger institutions, it's encouraging to know that students can access affordable classes here at their local community college.”
– Cindy McKnight, Scholarship Donor | Susan E. Andre (SEA) '70 Scholarship
Left to Right: Noah Kollinger & Zeta Achezinski, 2024-25 Andre Scholarship Recipients; Cindy McKnight - Donor; Abigail Cornish, 2024-25 Andre Scholarship Recipient
BC3 Scholarship Information
When you establish a scholarship, you will have the opportunity to witness the impact on a student's life. Scholarship gifts not only provide meaningful financial support by alleviating financial barriers, but they also serve as encouragement and empower students to focus on academic and personal goals and pursuits.
You may start your own named scholarship, or your gift can serve as an honorarium or memorial for a loved one. Your scholarship will become a point of connection between you and your student recipient(s). Establishing a named scholarship will give you the opportunity to attend our annual Oak Hills Celebration, an event to honor scholarship donors, scholarship recipients, and distinguished alumni alongside friends, family, and community members. In addition, donors receive personalized thank you letters from their recipients, annual award statements and are invited to join us at BC3 events and programs throughout the year.
The BC3 Education Foundation utilizes an online scholarship management platform that allows students to submit their application and supplemental materials. This platform automatically applies students to scholarship awards for which they are eligible.
Students must apply and register for the fall semester, and can then complete the online scholarship application between April 15th to July 1st each year. Students are notified if they receive a scholarship by mid-August.
Scholarships are based on academic merit and a variety of other criteria and are available to all students for all academic programs.
Our BC3 Scholarships page for students features information on how and when to apply and a link to our online scholarship application.
Scholarship Stories
“With the scholarship award, I was able to purchase my final year of nursing textbooks, as well as cover a portion of my fall tuition...Your support for your scholarship means a lot to me.”
– Addison Ritzert, Carol Best McClean & Richard W. McClean Scholarship Recipient,
2023
“Your investment into my future will not be wasted. As I continue to pursue a career in computer science, and golfing on the BC3 team, I will always remember the impact your club had on my future.”
– Jonah Kozora, Sunset Riders Motorcycle Club Scholarship Recipient, 2023
“I am enrolled in the psychology program and plan on transferring once my two years are over...Your gift has truly made a large difference in my life and has provided some much needed relief.”
– Lana Stewart, Ellen Garbuny & Don Best Scholarship Recipient, 2023
Have questions? Contact us!
Bobbi Jo Cornetti
General Inquiries
