Dr. Cathy Rush and the late Dr. Steven Rush ’74 are names synonymous with the field of education at Commonwealth University (CU)-Lock Haven. With over three decades of combined teaching and mentorship as faculty in Lock Haven’s education department, the Rushes have profoundly impacted thousands of students. Now, through a major gift to the Lock Haven University Foundation (LHUF), their joint legacy of inspiring educational leaders will live on, providing future Bald Eagles with meaningful support to pursue their dreams of becoming the best teachers they can be.
In February 2024, Cathy pledged a significant major gift to provide scholarship support for education students at CU-Lock Haven. For Cathy, the scholarship represents not only a tribute to “Steve,” who passed away in 2020, it also honors their shared commitment to empowering aspiring educators at the university they both cared so deeply for.
“Education is what drives the future,” said Cathy. “We need educated people with great problem solving skills, and that all starts with a solid educational foundation. That’s why supporting future educators is so important.”
Cathy’s journey in academia began in 1985, before transitioning to Lock Haven seven years later where she taught elementary education majors until her retirement in 2016. Named Lock Haven University Emerita in 2018, she earned the admiration of students and colleagues alike with her high standards and warm, engaging teaching style.
Known for her calculated and strategic use of humor, Cathy often lightened her math education classes with jokes—like her famous quip, “What do you call a man who lies on the beach all day? A tan gent…,” which Math Club students proudly wore on t-shirts. She recalls fondly the joy of seeing her students develop into outstanding teachers, rejoicing in the pride of watching them grow.
“One teacher can impact hundreds or thousands of students over their career,” said Cathy. “I hope that this scholarship helps create teachers who will go on to do just that.”
Steven, a 1974 graduate of Lock Haven State College, returned to the university in 2006 after his retirement following a distinguished career as a teacher and principal in the Montoursville Area School District. His calm, thoughtful demeanor made him a beloved professor, with his students appreciating his hands-on approach and the wealth of practical wisdom he brought to the classroom. His dedication to the university was recognized with emeritus status in 2014, an honor he took great pride in as a testament to his more than five decades of love and passion for Lock Haven, dating back to his time as a student.
“Steve was the yin to my yang,” said Cathy. He was quiet, supportive, and he had such a special ability to connect with his students in a way that truly made them feel seen.”
Beyond their roles as professors, the Rushes dedicated themselves to students not only in, but outside the classroom. Proudly, they served on scholarship committees, witnessing firsthand the lifechanging impact donor support could have on students’ lives, just as scholarships enhanced Cathy’s academic endeavors when she was in college.
“Steve and I both always felt that sometimes a small amount of financial support could mean the difference between dropping out or finishing a degree,” said Cathy.
That sentiment is what inspired Cathy to philanthropically continue the Rushes legacy of impacting aspiring educators—not just those with financial need, but also exceptional students with boundless potential to become phenomenal teachers, but who sometimes end up on the fringe of eligibility for need-based financial aid.
Beyond the establishment of the scholarship, Cathy is also a generous supporter of a variety of student programs at The Haven, including the Center for Career and Professional Engagement’s Career Closet, where she regularly donates professional attire for students, as well as The Haven Cupboard, which provides food and personal care items for students facing food insecurity and other financial hardships.
For Cathy, philanthropic support to the LHUF is about paying it forward to support the future of education in Pennsylvania, and beyond. As she reflects on her and Steve’s lifelong belief in the transformative power of education, she emphasizes, “This scholarship is our way of giving back to a community that gave so much to us. We want to help students become the kind of teachers who will inspire the next generation. By supporting them, I believe we’re touching the future.”
The Rush’s scholarship support serves as a beacon of their enduring dedication to the field of education. And their lifelong legacies of teaching, mentorship, and philanthropy will continue to shape the lives of Lock Haven students, reminding future educators that they, too, have the power to impact countless lives, just like Steve and Cathy.