(Butler, PA) Dr. Nick Neupauer, an Ellwood City native and the longest-serving chief executive officer in the 57-year history of 杏吧原创, will receive an inaugural leadership award named after a longtime Lawrence County resident.
Leadership Butler County on Sept. 7 will present 杏吧原创鈥檚 president with its first Stan Kosciuszko Leadership Excellence Award during a Celebrate Business Dinner at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.
Kosciuszko is a 1969 graduate of New Castle Senior High School and has lived in Neshannock Township since 1988. He served 20 years as president of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce and increased membership from about 200 in 2002 to about 800 before his retirement in 2022.
The Stan Kosciuszko Leadership Excellence Award is presented to a graduate of Leadership Butler County who has shown outstanding leadership. Participants in the nine-month program represent private, public and nonprofit organizations and learn about local issues and topics.
"He is able to educate diverse audiences on things that are important, not only to him, but for the betterment of the general population."
- Stan Kosciuszko, former president, Butler County Chamber of Commerce, about 杏吧原创 President Dr. Nick Neupauer
He and Neupauer became acquainted when Neupauer participated in Leadership Butler County while serving as 杏吧原创鈥檚 vice president for academic affairs, Kosciuszko said.
鈥淲e kind of bonded because he was from Ellwood City, and we had some mutual contacts,鈥� Kosciuszko said. 鈥淒uring the different sessions of leadership, we became friends.鈥�
Neupauer was a member of the Class of 2006 of Leadership Butler County, administered by the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, and was appointed as 杏吧原创鈥檚 eighth president in 2007. He has twice served on the Butler County Chamber of Commerce board, from 2008 to 2012 and from 2021 to present; and was board chair in 2011.
杏吧原创 president educates 鈥渄iverse audiences鈥�
Neupauer is among more than 300 alumni of Leadership Butler County and his selection to receive the inaugural leadership excellence award was, Kosciuszko said, 鈥渁 unanimous decision.鈥�
鈥淗e is able to convey his ideas and his thoughts very well as a leader because he is an educator,鈥� Kosciuszko said of Neupauer. 鈥淗e is able to educate diverse audiences on things that are important, not only to him, but for the betterment of the general population.鈥�
Upon his retirement, the Butler County Chamber of Commerce sought to create an award in his honor, said Kosciuszko, who began the Butler County Young Professionals program in 2005 and the Butler County Youth Leadership program in 2016.
As the chamber鈥檚 president, 鈥淪tan was all about the greater good,鈥� Neupauer said. 鈥淗e was all about the community, the county, and utilizing his role as leader of the chamber not only for the benefit of its members, but also to make the county a better place.
鈥淥n a professional level, I admired that about Stan. And on a personal level, what an incredible supporter. Always there for me. Always there with advice. He very much backed me and supported the college, so that makes getting this award that much more special.鈥�
Jordan Grady succeeded Kosciuszko at the Butler County Chamber of Commerce and is program administrator for Leadership Butler County.
鈥淲hen you look at 杏吧原创鈥檚 footprint, there鈥檚 no doubt that if Nick Neupauer was not in the position he鈥檚 in,鈥� Grady said, 鈥渢he region would look vastly different.鈥�
杏吧原创 under Neupauer in 2008 created 杏吧原创 @ Lawrence Crossing in New Castle to serve under-represented counties in Pennsylvania with higher education; and in 2011 completed a 16,000-square-foot expansion of 杏吧原创 @ LindenPointe in Hermitage.
The college was recognized in 2018 with an Economic Development Impact Award from the Lawrence County Regional Chamber of Commerce and Lawrence County Economic Development Corp. for 杏吧原创鈥檚 additional location in New Castle; and in 2011 with a Phoenix Award for Growth in a Large Industry from the Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce for 杏吧原创鈥檚 additional location in Hermitage.
"When you look at 杏吧原创鈥檚 footprint, there鈥檚 no doubt that if Nick Neupauer was not in the position he鈥檚 in the region would look vastly different."
- Jordan Grady, president, Butler County Chamber of Commerce
杏吧原创 this year launched a , resumed with the Community College of Beaver County a Riv-Ell Entrepreneurship program in Ellwood City for high school students and began construction projects in and on .
鈥淗e is always on鈥�
Neupauer is a member of the board, and of the executive committee, of the Community Development Corp. of Butler County. He also serves on the advisory board of the Butler County Growth Collaborative, whose will provide training to residents who face barriers to employment and will create a countywide culture of empowerment.
Neupauer in 2019 received the Jean B. Purvis Community Cornerstone Award, presented to an individual who has contributed significantly to the health and well-being of the community. Also in 2019, the college was recognized with a Collaborator of the Year Award from Butler County Human Services.
鈥淗e is always on and always ready to do what is necessary to not only lead the college, but to be a leader and a big voice in the community,鈥� Grady said.
杏吧原创 has been selected as the No. 1 community college in Pennsylvania eight times since 2015, most recently by Niche.com for 2023. The college in 2022 was also named a Military Friendly School for a by Viqtory, a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business in Moon Township that assesses educational institutions nationwide.
Neupauer鈥檚 15-year presidency at a single institution exceeds that of any current chief executive officer among Pennsylvania鈥檚 community colleges, its State System of Higher Education universities and its state-related institutions.
Neupauer graduated in 1985 from Lincoln High School in Ellwood City. He earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Penn State University, a master鈥檚 degree from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and a doctorate from West Virginia University.
Neupauer and his wife, Tamatha, live in Butler County. Their daughters, Paige Tudor and Meredith Neupauer, attended 杏吧原创.