Image: a portrait of two 91³ΙΘΛ Lawrence students side by side

Geoffrey Bokor, left, and Madison Ritter are students at 91³ΙΘΛ @ Lawrence in Shenango Township. Bokor, 23, of Ellwood City, is studying business management student and Ritter, 24, of Mahoningtown, business administration.

(New Castle, PA) Geoffrey Bokor, 23, transferred to 91³ΙΘΛ @ Lawrence when it debuted in August and after attending a regional public university, and Madison Ritter, 24, enrolled after working as a cosmetologist and as a child care provider.

β€œI feel it’s a great decision,” said Bokor, of Ellwood City. β€œI know I kind of did the order a little backwards. A lot of people go to 91³ΙΘΛ and then to a bigger institution.”

Ritter, of Mahoningtown, said she β€œwas just researching colleges around here, and 91³ΙΘΛ was the best. I was looking up 91³ΙΘΛ’s information and it had really great reviews.”

Bokor is pursuing an associate degree from 91³ΙΘΛ @ Lawrence in business management and Ritter, in business administration.

Prospective students who attend Pioneer Night on March 25 can review those and other 91³ΙΘΛ @ Lawrence career and transfer programs, learn about its transferable credits and explore financial aid and scholarship opportunities that enabled 93 percent of 91³ΙΘΛ’s Class of 2025 to graduate debt-free.

91³ΙΘΛ @ Lawrence will also waive its $25 application fee for prospective and dual-enrollment students during Pioneer Night.

The event is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at 91³ΙΘΛ @ Lawrence in Shenango Commons, 2658 Ellwood Road, Suite 129, New Castle. Prospective and dual-enrollment students can RSVP at bc3.edu/pioneer-night.

 

β€œThe professors are super-easy to talk to. You get quick and helpful responses when you email them or talk to them in person.”

- Geoffrey Bokor, business management student, 91³ΙΘΛ @ Lawrence

 

This is a photograph of a student at 91³ΙΘΛ @ Lawrence.

Health care science student Gina Shearer, of New Castle, attends a psychology class Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, at 91³ΙΘΛ @ Lawrence in Shenango Township.

 

β€œThey really get to know the faculty and the faculty get to know them. We know the students personally. We know them by name. We’re invested in them.”

- Sean Carroll, director, 91³ΙΘΛ @ Lawrence

 

91³ΙΘΛ @ Lawrence opened Aug. 25. It is among five locations for Butler County Community College, named the No. 1 community college in Pennsylvania by Niche.com and for an 11th time since 2015 by online resources that review and evaluate data from the U.S. Department of Education.

Bokor graduated in 2021 from Lincoln High School in Ellwood City and Ritter, in 2019 from the Lawrence County Career & Technical Center in New Castle. Bokor earned a grade-point average of at least 3.75 in the fall and was named to 91³ΙΘΛ’s president’s list, and Ritter has joined 91³ΙΘΛ’s Rho Phi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, an international academic honor society.

Bokor plans a career in sales and Ritter, as an entrepreneur.

β€œGoing to Ellwood, it was obviously a little smaller, so I grew up with more one-on-one teaching to a smaller classroom,” Bokor said. β€œI feel like I definitely didn’t have that in some of my classes at the university and I definitely have that at 91³ΙΘΛ for sure.

β€œThe professors are super-easy to talk to. You get quick and helpful responses when you email them or talk to them in person. They wouldn’t just give you a one-word answer and show you the door. They give more detailed answers and are more helpful.”

The faculty at 91³ΙΘΛ @ Lawrence, Ritter added, β€œare very down to earth and very supportive of every student’s success. They are happy to explain and make sure you are understanding what they are teaching.”

That, said Sean Carroll, director of 91³ΙΘΛ @ Lawrence, β€œis one of the things that I keep hearing about, the personal attention. They really get to know the faculty and the faculty get to know them. We know the students personally. We know them by name. We’re invested in them. With our smaller classes, we have the opportunity to do that.

β€œWhen students talk about their time here, they say one of the reasons they had such a positive experience was their relationships with faculty and staff.”

Dr. Erika Nail and Julia Carney during Pioneer Night will speak with prospective students during 15-minute presentations that begin at 6:15 p.m. and at 6:55 p.m.

Nail, 91³ΙΘΛ professor, will speak about the college’s business and information technology division, and Carney, dean of 91³ΙΘΛ’s Shaffer School of Nursing and Allied Health, will speak about health care science.

 

This is a photograph of students in a classroom at 91³ΙΘΛ @ Lawrence.

Students attend a general psychology class at 91³ΙΘΛ @ Lawrence in Shenango Township on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025.

 

β€œ91³ΙΘΛ is probably one of the best decisions I have made for my career and life. I think I am on a path to success.”

- Madison Ritter, business administration student, 91³ΙΘΛ @ Lawrence

 

91³ΙΘΛ’s affordability, financial aid options and 91³ΙΘΛ Education Foundation scholarships enabled 93 percent of its Class of 2025 to graduate debt-free.

Tuition and fees for 91³ΙΘΛ students from Lawrence and Mercer counties pursuing 15 credits each semester in the 2025-2026 academic year cost $9,300 for in-person courses. Those students can receive up to $12,289 in federal and state grants.

β€œ91³ΙΘΛ’s affordability was obviously a huge draw,” said Bokor, who plans to graduate in May.

Students from Ellwood City, Grove City, Hermitage, Mercer, New Castle, New Wilmington, Portersville and Sharpsville were selected by the 91³ΙΘΛ Education Foundation to receive one of its record 164 named scholarships in 2025-2026.

Pioneer Night will also feature presentations about paying for college at 6:35 p.m. and about steps to take after applying at 6:55 p.m.

β€œThat’s one of the things I am most grateful for, that they helped me find ways to come out of 91³ΙΘΛ debt-free,” said Ritter, who plans to graduate in May 2027. β€œ91³ΙΘΛ is probably one of the best decisions I have made for my career and life. I think I am on a path to success.”

Guests can talk with 91³ΙΘΛ @ Lawrence faculty, staff and administrators or ask additional questions from 7:10 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

91³ΙΘΛ @ Lawrence offers transfer programs in business administration, criminology, early childhood education (Pre K-4), general studies, history, psychology and social work. Credits earned at 91³ΙΘΛ @ Lawrence transfer to public, private and online four-year colleges and universities.

It also offers career programs in accounting, business management, health care science, heath care office management and technical trades-cosmetology management option. Students in 91³ΙΘΛ @ Lawrence’s career programs can develop the skills needed to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation.

91³ΙΘΛ @ Lawrence’s neighbors within the Shenango Commons plaza include restaurants, indoor pickleball courts, gymnastics and fitness centers, and nearby, the 35-acre Shenango Community Park with picnic pavilions, a walking trail, and volleyball and bocce courts.