Retired LHU faculty couple build a legacy of service and generosity to support CU-Lock Haven education majors

LOCK HAVEN-Dr. Cathy Rush and the late Dr. Steven Rush ’74, are names synonymous with the field of education at Commonwealth University-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.

In February, Cathy pledged a significant major gift to the Lock Haven University Foundation (LHUF) 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 their alma mater.

“Education is what drives the future,” Cathy said. “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.”

Her 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 math 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 wore on T-shirts. She recalls the joy of seeing her students develop into outstanding teachers and the pride she had in watching them grow.

“One teacher can impact hundreds or thousands of students over their career,” she said. “I hope that this scholarship helps create teachers who will go on to do just that.”

Steven, a 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.

“Steve was the yin to my yang,” Cathy said. “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 in and outside of the classroom. 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,” Cathy said.

That sentiment is what inspired Cathy to philanthropically continue the Rush’s 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 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. “This scholarship is our way of giving back to a community that gave so much to us,” Cathy said. “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.”