Butler Community College is preparing to enter its 100th year of operations. To celebrate this milestone, Butler has designated the 2026-2027 academic year as the centennial year.
Butler Archivist Ronald Rozzell and Director of Donor Relations Hayley Hobbs, have been appointed co-chairs of Butler’s Centennial Committee.
“Our mission is to help promote and celebrate Butler’s 100 years of service to the community,” Rozzell said.
The committee accomplishes this goal by assembling a collection of Butler memorabilia.
“As archivist I make available the most interesting and important moments in Butler’s history to help facilitate a better understanding of our history,” Rozzell said.
The committee has also reached out in hopes of getting the community involved with the celebration. “We’ve been to Andover, El Dorado and Augusta and we’ve delivered window clings and also a business resource sheet for businesses in the community about how the college can help them achieve some of their goals, whether that’s internships or using students to create a marketing plan,” Hobbs said.
Although there will be a main centennial celebration, much of the regular campus activities will continue but with a
special twist.
“The Centennial would be woven into all [campus activities] that happen. And then, the main special event is the one in October... Beyond that, it’s just everything else that goes on all year at campus - fine arts events, athletics events - a lot of things being worked on,” Hobbs said.
The main kickoff to the 2026-2027 school year will happen on October 17.
“It’s still in planning stages because trying to get enough people in one room to talk about what it should look like is hard at an institution this size," said Hobbs.
“We’re still working on the details, but that’s going to be kind of the main centennial celebration, and that’s the same day as our only home football game in October. So, we’re hoping that’s something the community, faculty, staff and students come out to enjoy.”
Because Butler has had a long and unmistakable presence in the local community, the centennial will be for everyone in the area – not just the college.
“The October 17th event is not just for people at Butler. It’s for the community,” Rozzell said.
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