(Butler, PA) A Butler County Community College student who volunteers as a first responder, and another as a canvasser for military care packages will earn debt-free associate degrees in May before pursuing bachelor’s degrees with full-tuition scholarships.

Their commitment to their community college and to their community – evaluated after their grade-point average – have been recognized with the naming of Serena Horstman, of Penn Township, and Taylor Voloch, of West Sunbury, to Phi Theta Kappa’s 2026 All-Pennsylvania Academic Team.

Horstman, a firefighter and emergency medical technician, and Voloch, a fundraiser for veterans stateside and active military abroad, will receive full-tuition scholarships applicable to any Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education university.

Selections must be enrolled in a transfer program at a Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges institution such as BC3 and have earned an overall grade-point average of at least 3.5 through 36 credits.

 

“Serena and Taylor are impressive examples of our students at BC3. They excel academically while balancing many life commitments and are both driven toward careers where they can help others.”

-- Dr. Josh Novak, BC3 vice president for student affairs and enrollment management

 

Horstman and Voloch graduated from high school as National Honor Society students and enrolled in fall 2024 in 62-credit associate degree transfer programs at BC3.

“I knew BC3 was affordable and that its quality of education was really good just from going to Knoch High School,” Horstman said. “Those were actually the selling points why I applied.”

Horstman, 19, is studying criminology at BC3. She is a firefighter and emergency medical technician with the Penn Township Volunteer Fire Department and seeks to become an arson investigator.

Voloch, 19, also heard as a Moniteau High student “that BC3 was very affordable, the education was very good and that there were smaller class sizes, which was definitely good for me because I went to a small high school. So those were good points.”

Voloch is studying psychology at BC3. She assists Hero’s Angels fundraisers in Chicora and wants to become a school counselor.

Phi Theta Kappa is an international academic honor society for two-year colleges and programs. Horstman is vice president for service in Rho Phi, BC3’s 150-member chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, and Voloch is chapter vice president.

They have volunteered with other Rho Phi members at BC3’s student life events, sponsored stress-relieving activities during finals week and created a weeklong pop-up shop with donated items that were available free to other students.

“Serena and Taylor are impressive examples of our students at BC3,” said Dr. Josh Novak, the college’s vice president for student affairs and enrollment management. “They excel academically while balancing many life commitments and are both driven toward careers where they can help others.

“But they are not waiting until some future timeline to start leaving their mark. They are already making important contributions to their local communities and are creating incredible impact through their service and volunteer efforts.”

 

“Looking back at all the hard work I have done and still do makes me proud. I’ve pushed through challenges that might arise and I am more confident because I have worked so hard to get to where I am.”

-- Serena Horstman, BC3 criminology student, first responder

 

 

“I put my all into everything. I’m very proud of how hard I have worked. And it is definitely my hard work that is shown in all the accomplishments I’ve had.”

-- Taylor Voloch, BC3 psychology student, military fundraiser

 

Horstman and Voloch also work at least 10 hours a week in retail. They will be honored for their All-Pennsylvania Academic Team selection at the commission’s banquet April 7 in Harrisburg.

“Looking back at all the hard work I have done and still do makes me proud,” Horstman said. “I’ve pushed through challenges that might arise and I am more confident because I have worked so hard to get to where I am.”

“I put my all into everything,” Voloch said. “I’m very proud of how hard I have worked. And it is definitely my hard work that is shown in all the accomplishments I’ve had.”

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education has awarded to All-Pennsylvania Academic Team members full-tuition scholarships toward completing a bachelor’s degree at any of its universities since 2001.

Horstman plans to transfer to Indiana or Slippery Rock universities of Pennsylvania and major in criminology with a concentration in forensic science. She trained to become a firefighter through BC3’s public safety training department.

Voloch intends to transfer to Slippery Rock University, where she will major in psychology. She is also a BC3 student ambassador who assists the college with events and became BC3’s first female All-American in golf in June.

Horstman and Voloch will graduate debt-free from BC3 in May as a result of scholarships or full-tuition waivers from the BC3 Education Foundation.

Horstman has received from the BC3 Education Foundation $2,041 in Butler County Volunteer Firefighter Tuition Scholarships, the $525 Trevor Barkley Memorial Scholarship and the $1,247 Butler AM Rotary Club Scholarship.

“One of my biggest worries was having debt when I came out of college,” Horstman said. “Getting all the scholarships has shown me that my hard work has paid off. So it’s kind of a full-circle moment with everything coming into play.”

Voloch has received a full-tuition waiver from the BC3 Education Foundation as a BC3 presidential scholar. She was also awarded from the foundation the $2,045 Susan E. Andre (SEA) ’70 Scholarship and the $655 Allan Peters Memorial Scholarship.

“Avoiding student loans is always good,” Voloch said. “I feel like that could create a lot of stress in the future and while you are still young, still learning about life. Not having to worry about an extra thing like student loans takes the weight off your shoulders.”

Voloch has also been chosen as a 2026 Coca-Cola Academic Team scholar and will receive a $1,300 scholarship from the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation.

BC3’s presidential scholars program includes a full-tuition waiver for up to 18 credits each semester and may be funded with various named scholarships through the BC3 Education Foundation. It is available to students in the Top 10 percent 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 must also be residents of Butler County.

A cyberschool student counted in those public schools’ graduating classes is also eligible. To be eligible for the program, students must enroll at BC3 in the first semester following their high school graduation, participate in the program and maintain at least a 3.5 grade-point average at BC3. Students are responsible for fees.

Kayla Blystone, a student in BC3 @ Brockway’s registered nursing career program, will be recognized as an All-Pennsylvania Academic Team workforce pathway scholar at the commission’s banquet April 7 in Harrisburg.