Jujuan Wiley, center, of New Castle, is shown Thursday, May 14, 2026, outside the Succop Theater on Butler County Community College’s main campus in Butler Township, where BC3’s Class of 2026 in registered nursing was recognized for completing the associate degree career program that addresses a regional shortage in the high-priority occupation. Wiley was among a record 104 graduates of the program offered on BC3’s main campus and at BC3 @ Brockway in Jefferson County. At left is Nora Moore, of New Castle, Wiley’s aunt; and at right is Ashlee Moore, of New Castle, Wiley’s cousin.
(Butler, PA) Jujuan Wiley decided to pursue a career as a registered nurse because of “an overwhelming need for my life to have meaning through making sure others feel seen, cared for and that there is someone who has them and isn’t going to let them slip through the cracks.”
Taylor Pivetta, because “I have relatives with a lot of medical problems. Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve been with them through their visits and surgeries. It’s just always been a part of who I am.”
And Kadeon Austin, because “I wasn’t just led to be a registered nurse. I am led to be a Florence Nightingale, a history maker, a light carrier and life saver.”
Wiley, of Lawrence County; Pivetta, of Armstrong County; and Austin, of Butler County, are among a record 104 graduates in 2026 of a Butler County Community College associate degree program in registered nursing that addresses a regional shortage in the high-priority occupation.
“The program allows students to complete their nursing degree in two years and to come out making very good money.”
-- Julia Carney, dean, BC3’s Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health
Braeden Trumbull, left, of Kittanning, is shown Thursday, May 14, 2026, inside the Succop Theater on Butler County Community College’s main campus in Butler Township, where BC3’s Class of 2026 in registered nursing was recognized for completing the associate degree career program that addresses a regional shortage in the high-priority occupation. Trumbull was among a record 104 graduates of the program offered on BC3’s main campus and at BC3 @ Brockway in Jefferson County.
Graduates represent 13 western Pennsylvania counties and attended the two-year career program on the college’s main campus in Butler Township or at BC3 @ Brockway in Jefferson County.
Students in BC3’s registered nursing and other career programs can develop the skills needed to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation.
“The program,” said Julia Carney, dean of BC3’s Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health, “allows students to complete their nursing degree in two years and to come out making very good money.”
Graduates report having accepted positions with hourly pay as high as $42.41 and with signing bonuses reaching $20,000.
The 73 graduates of BC3’s main campus program include 10 who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing at Grove City College. Thirty-one students graduated in 2026 from the program at BC3 @ Brockway.
“I think going into a career without any debt gives you a good head start. When you’re younger, you want to get your house and start a family, so being able to graduate debt-free was important to me.”
-- Marly Koleno, BC3 Class of 2026 registered nursing graduate
Jayla Telesz, left, of Hermitage, is shown Thursday, May 14, 2026, inside the Succop Theater on Butler County Community College’s main campus in Butler Township, where BC3’s Class of 2026 in registered nursing was recognized for completing the associate degree career program that addresses a regional shortage in the high-priority occupation. Telesz was among a record 104 graduates of the program offered on BC3’s main campus and at BC3 @ Brockway in Jefferson County.
Approximately 70 percent of those who attended the main campus program graduated debt-free in 2026 as a result of the college’s affordability, financial aid options and BC3 Education Foundation scholarships, according to Juli Louttit, the college’s director of student financial services.
The BC3 Education Foundation in the past two years awarded scholarships totaling $37,542 to main campus students who graduated from the program in 2026, according to Bobbi Jo Cornett, the foundation’s scholarship and development coordinator.
Marly Koleno, an Armstrong County resident, received one of a then-record 164 scholarships in the 2025-2026 academic year from the BC3 Education Foundation and graduated debt-free.
“It absolutely helps with getting your life started,” Koleno said.
“I think going into a career without any debt gives you a good head start. When you’re younger, you want to get your house and start a family, so being able to graduate debt-free was important to me.”
Koleno said she accepted a position as a surgical transplant nurse in Pittsburgh and will start at $39.18 per hour.
“I believe that each person deserves a fair chance to access decent health care. It could be a medication, insulin or education that could be the difference between living a better quality of life or not.”
-- Kadeon Austin, BC3 Class of 2026 registered nursing graduate
The Class of 2026 includes 11 graduates whose tuition was sponsored by Concordia Lutheran Ministries, Cabot; and four – Makenzie Reay, of Butler County; Larkin Sollie, of Allegheny County; Delanie Toy, of Armstrong County; and Macy Workman, of Butler County – who previously completed BC3’s practical nursing certificate program.
Austin earned a bachelor’s degree in management studies at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica, and chose to pursue a registered nursing career after the unexpected deaths of her grandfather and grandmother in a small town, where “the resources are few, but the needs of the community are great.
“From then, I knew I wanted to help not just that town but many others that exist. I believe that each person deserves a fair chance to access decent health care. It could be a medication, insulin or education that could be the difference between living a better quality of life or not.”
Upon relocation to Butler County, Austin selected BC3’s program because it “is highly recognized, and I’ve met many students who’ve completed the program and are excellent ‘A’-game nurses, working in multiple specialties and making a difference in health care.”
Butler County Community College registered nursing graduates who have received the Autumn Rose Cooper ’18 Nursing Award for clinical excellence are, top row, left Nicholas Stutz, Butler, in 2021; Jessica Hoover, Freedom, in 2022; and Paige McKain, Butler, in 2023. Bottom row, from left, Jamie Gallagher, Cranberry Township, in 2024; Amber Barger, Butler, in 2025; and Kadeon Austin, Renfrew, in 2026.
Graduates were recognized May 14 for completing the 70-credit selective-admissions program during a pinning ceremony in Succop Theater on the college’s main campus in Butler Township.
Austin was selected to receive the Autumn Rose Cooper ’18 Nursing Award, which recognizes clinical excellence and is funded through the BC3 Education Foundation by the former Autumn Gressly, a 2018 BC3 registered nursing graduate. The award funds licensure fees and travel expenses associated with the post-graduation NCLEX-RN.
The Autumn Rose Cooper ’18 Nursing Award was presented to Nicholas Stutz, Butler, in 2021; Jessica Hoover, Freedom, in 2022; Paige McKain, Butler, in 2023; Jamie Gallagher, Cranberry Township, in 2024; and Amber Barger, Butler, in 2025.
BC3’s 104-member Class of 2026 in registered nursing represents Allegheny, Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Forest, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, Mercer and Venango counties.
Graduates of Butler County Community College’s registered nursing program are shown Thursday, May 14, 2026, on the college’s main campus in Butler Township, where BC3’s Class of 2026 in registered nursing was recognized for completing the associate degree career program that addresses a regional shortage in the high-priority occupation. Clockwise from top: Nina Syzmanski, 21, left, of Saxonburg, and Emma Slaughenhoup, 21, of East Brady, pose in a photo booth in AK Steel Lobby of the Succop Theater; Lizzie DeRose, 24, right, of Chicora, receives a hug from Amy Barkus, of Butler, in the lobby; Logun Beck, 28, of Butler, takes a bow on the theater stage.
State: Registered nurses needed in western Pennsylvania
Registered nurse in western Pennsylvania is a high-priority occupation, according to the state Department of Labor & Industry, which defines the position as one that is in demand by employers, has higher skill needs and is most likely to provide family sustaining wages.
The BC3 Education Foundation in 2026-2027 plans to award a record 165 scholarships, with 33 designated to BC3 nursing students.
BC3 and Grove City College in 2019 established a partnership in which Grove City students could gain technical and clinical experience at BC3 while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in registered nursing from the Mercer County private institution.
BC3 and Concordia in 2020 forged a partnership in which Concordia sponsors the tuition of eligible students in exchange for their signing an employment contract to work for the health care provider following graduation.
General applications for fall 2027 consideration in BC3’s main campus and BC3 @ Brockway registered nursing programs will be accepted Aug. 1 to Dec. 1.
Graduates of Butler County Community College’s registered nursing program are shown Thursday, May 14, 2026, in the Succop Theater on the college’s main campus in Butler Township, where BC3’s Class of 2026 in registered nursing was recognized for completing the associate degree career program that addresses a regional shortage in the high-priority occupation.
Graduates in BC3’s Class of 2026 in the college’s main campus registered nursing program from Allegheny County are Victoria Beckett, Allison Park; Kayla Greenwald, Natrona Heights; Kiersyn Knight, Bairdford; and Larkin Sollie, Pittsburgh.
Graduates from Armstrong County are Makaila Grein and Marly Koleno, Apollo; Nicole Fox and Christina Toy, each from Ford City; Delanie Toy, Freeport; Ariel Perkins, Taylor Pivetta, Casey Sarver, Kyra Sprouse, Braeden Trumbull and Karissa Wolfe, all of Kittanning; Andrea Krizmanich, Rural Valley; and Hanna Burke, Worthington.
Graduates from Butler in Butler County are Molly Andrews, John Barkus, Logun Beck, Elizabeth Daugherty, Rachel Decker, Heather Garland, Paige Hampe, Lily Hilliard, Samantha Johnson, Samantha Klemz, Stormie Milligan, Makenzie Reay, Payton Slagle and Renee Young.
Also from Butler County, Makenzie Czech, Boyers; Jessica Burgard and Della Harvey, each from Cabot; Elizabeth DeRose, Emma Ellenberger and Emma Slaugenhoup, all from Chicora; and Stefany Garcia, Christopher Williams and Sada Winters, all from Cranberry Township.
Also from Butler County, Leah Barnes, East Butler; Crystal Eckert and Sophia Tennent, Hilliards; Blake Smith, Karns City; Isabella Bennett, Mars; Tyler Hutchison, Petrolia; and Olivia Tiche, Portersville.
Also from Butler County, Kadeon Austin, Isabella Nagel and Kerri Nagel, all from Renfrew; Nina Szymanski, of Saxonburg; and Alyssa Riddle, Slippery Rock.
Also, from Crawford County, Kara Blair, Conneaut Lake; from Indiana County, Peyton Fairman, Plumville; from Lawrence County, Emma Hanaway, Randi Hurta and Jujuan Wiley, of New Castle; from Mercer County, Erik Damko, Stoneboro; Hannah Reiber, Grove City; and Jayla Telesz, of Hermitage; and from Venango County, Margaret Smith, of Franklin.
Graduates who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Grove City College are Chloe Berger, Kimball, Neb.; Haily Boss, New Lenox, Ill.; Julia Ehrenberger, Glenshaw, Pa.; Chelsey Freyermuth, Meadville, Pa.; Marlyse Giesbrecht, Telford, Pa.; Gabriella Hartle, Harrisville, Pa.; Anna Claire Puglia, Bonita, Calif.; Thomas Seese, Hubbard, Ohio; Shastyn Tihansky, Hazelton, Pa.; and Nichole Sico, Butler, Pa.