Two 20-year-olds who expect to graduate debt-free from Butler County Community College with associate degrees in May will receive full-tuition scholarships toward completing a bachelor’s degree as part of an international academic honor society’s recognition of their achievements inside and outside the classroom.
Molly Milich, of West Sunbury, and Sennett Purcell, of Cabot, are members of Phi Theta Kappa and have been selected to its 2025 All-Pennsylvania Academic Team based on their grade-point average, according to a news release from BC3.
Each student is in an associate degree transfer program at BC3 — Milich, in English and history; and Purcell in psychology.
Students selected to the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team must be enrolled in a transfer program at a Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges institution such as BC3 and have an overall grade-point average of at least 3.5 through 36 completed credits.
All-Pennsylvania Academic Team members have been awarded a full-tuition scholarship toward completing a bachelor’s degree at a Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education university of their choice since 2001.
Milich plans to major in history at Slippery Rock University toward her goal of becoming an attorney. Purcell said she may attend Slippery Rock University, where she would study psychology; she seeks a career as a child psychologist.
Milich is vice president for special events with Rho Phi, the college’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, and Purcell is vice president for fellowship.
The BC3 Education Foundation selected Milich to receive four scholarships in the past two years based on benefactors’ criteria and Purcell, two.
Milich said she chose BC3 because she wanted to begin her higher education by living at home, and she qualified to become a presidential scholar at the college by graduating in the top 10% of her high school class and with a grade-point average of at least 3.5.
The 2023 Moniteau Junior-Senior High graduate has received a full-tuition waiver for four semesters as a BC3 presidential scholar.
“I am beyond grateful that I chose BC3,” Milich said. “I have had so many great experiences here, and it is by far one of the best decisions I have ever made.”
Milich, as a BC3 student ambassador, also has assisted the college with events such as open houses and commencement, and conducted campus tours for prospective students and their families.
She was chosen to be the student speaker in October at the Oak Hills Luncheon, where the college honors its newest distinguished alumni and where scholarship recipients can meet their scholarship benefactors.
Milich, who works 20 hours per week as a barista at a downtown Butler coffee shop, cataloged artifacts last summer as a volunteer with the Butler County Historical Society and organized biannual blood drives as a junior and senior at Moniteau that collected 129 units in honor of a classmate who died at 17.
“Planning and running blood drives is one of the most significant accomplishments I have had,” Milich said. “Not only was it a great way to honor my friend and classmate, but it also saves so many lives. … I am so happy to have been able to work with my community and donors to help save countless lives.”
Purcell, who graduated from Knoch High in 2023, said she picked BC3 because “she wanted to explore various subjects and find the right path” for her future.
“BC3 has provided me with … amazing professors who enhanced my understanding of psychology and prepared me for my future professional roles,” Purcell said.
She works more than 20 hours a week as a server at a downtown Butler restaurant and at the front desk of a gym in Pittsburgh, where separately she volunteers as a cheerleading coach for special-needs children. She has also volunteered to collect and sort gifts for Toys for Tots at an event in Natrona Heights.
“Volunteering fosters a sense of connection and belonging, allowing individuals to build stronger relationships within their community,” Purcell said.
Milich and Purcell will be honored at the Pennsylvania Commission for Community College’s banquet Tuesday, April 8, in Harrisburg for their selection to Phi Theta Kappa’s 2025 All-Pennsylvania Academic Team.
Phi Theta Kappa is an international academic honor society for two-year colleges and programs.
BC3’s presidential scholars program includes a full-tuition waiver for up to 18 credits each semester and may be funded through various named scholarships through the BC3 Education Foundation. It is available to students in the top 10% of their graduating class and who have achieved at least a 3.5 grade-point average at any of Butler County’s public high schools. Students also must be residents of Butler County.
A cyber school student counted in those public schools’ graduating classes also is eligible. Students must also enroll at BC3 in the first semester following their high school graduation to be eligible for the program, and are required to take scholars-only courses and maintain at least a 3.5 grade-point average at BC3.
Bill Foley is coordinator of news and media content at Butler County Community College.
514 West Wayne Street
Butler, PA 16001
