(Butler, PA) Twenty-four Butler County Community College students from six western Pennsylvania counties have received a $2,000 scholarship funded by a resident of Cranberry Township and of Tampa, Fla., who after graduating from BC3 created an oil and gas exploration company.
Gary G. Griwatz earned an associate degree in business from BC3 in 1972, began to work as a landman in the oil and gas sector in 1973 and established Crown Energy Corp. in 1973.
His Gary G. Griwatz Scholarship is a result of his $100,000 gift to the BC3 Education Foundation in 2025 and brings to a record 166 the number awarded by the foundation to BC3 students for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Fifty-one of the foundation’s scholarships total at least $2,000.
A $2,000 scholarship represents 32 percent of tuition and fees for Butler County students pursuing 30 credits through in-person courses at BC3 in the current academic year, and 21 percent for students from Pennsylvania counties other than Butler.
BC3’s affordability, financial aid options and BC3 Education Foundation scholarships enabled 82 percent of the college’s Class of 2026 to graduate debt-free.
The Gary G. Griwatz Scholarship was available to students attending courses at any BC3 location or online and enrolled in any program. Eligible students must have earned a minimum grade-point average of 2.0 at BC3.
BC3 students from Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Jefferson, Lawrence and Mercer counties were notified Sept. 17 they had been selected to receive the scholarship, said Bobbi Jo Cornetti, scholarship and development coordinator with the BC3 Education Foundation.
Recipients from Butler County are general studies students Lillian Daniels, Saxonburg; Gracelyn Gump, Butler; Adrien Koromaus, Cranberry Township; and Julia Walker, Butler. Also, health care science students Ireland Connor, Petrolia; Maura Croyle, Butler; and Elizabeth Nulph, Sarver. Also, registered nursing students Allison Rembold, Slippery Rock; Susan Self, Prospect; and Hailey Staley, Harrisville.
Recipients from Butler County also include engineering students Ernesto Cruz Buitrago, Cranberry Township; and Jacob Lewis, Butler. Also, business management students Wyatt Mclaughlin, Portersville; and Tim Wolfe, Renfrew. Also, computer science students Anthony Morabito, Butler; and Cooper Snow, Saxonburg.
Recipients from Butler County also include Jordan Brown, Valencia, communications; and Alexis Cole, Parker, accounting.
Also receiving the award are Lena Hess, Brockway, Jefferson County, physical therapist assistant; Hannah Koonse, Hermitage, Mercer County, registered nursing; Alana McCausland, Rural Valley, Armstrong County, registered nursing; Isabella Thompson, Kittanning, Armstrong County, registered nursing; Arionna Wawrzynski, Ellwood City, Lawrence County, registered nursing; and Lulit Sigo, Oakdale, Allegheny County, health care science.