PennWest News

October 1, 2024

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PENNWEST RECEIVES TRANSFORMATIONAL $3.2 MILLION GIFT TO
ENHANCE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

October 01, 2024
Pennsylvania Western University has received a $3.2 million gift to enhance
early childhood education at the Rutledge Institute for Early Childhood
Education.
The transformational donation came from Karen and Tom Rutledge, who
established the Rutledge Institute for Early Childhood Education at PennWest
California in 2018 with a historic $4.2 million gift. The latest contribution
will significantly increase the institute’s presence on campus, transforming
Morgan Hall’s building to support more educational activities, promote
physical development, and expand the institute’s program offerings. This

expansion will enable the institute to serve more children and broaden its
impact on the local community.
Tom Rutledge, a 1977 graduate of California, and Karen Rutledge, who
received an honorary doctorate from the university in 2022, have long
championed early learning opportunities. The couple has supported students
for years with several different internships and scholarship awards.
“Tom and Karen’s philanthropic support for the future of the Rutledge Institute
has redefined at PennWest what is possible in learning, scholarship, and
collaboration," said Jon Anderson, president of PennWest. “This gift continues
to empower our education majors to pursue their passions and provide the
community with access to exceptional, innovative early childhood education –
without financial barriers.”
Since its establishment, the Rutledge Institute has become a cornerstone of
early childhood education at PennWest. The institute offers scholarships that
provide free tuition, fees and housing for students pursuing degrees in early
childhood education. These scholarships aim to enhance and strengthen the
early childhood education workforce by training future professionals across
various fields, from early care to specialized education.
Rutledge Scholars can earn early childhood credentials through a range of
degree options, including an associate degree in early childhood education, a
bachelor's degree in Grades PreK-4 with a teaching certification, or a master’s
degree in early childhood education
The Rutledge Institute for Early Childhood Education Center is a partnership
between PennWest University and The Village, a state- and nationally
accredited early childhood education center. The Rutledge Institute offers
state-of-the-art early childhood education at no cost to qualifying families.
Currently, the institute educates 40 preschool-age students, preparing them
for academic success through a curriculum that focuses on STREAM:
science, technology, reading, engineering, arts, and math, as well as literacy
in an emerging information age.
“This gift reflects Karen and Tom Rutledge’s ongoing commitment to providing
world-class early learning opportunities to young children in southwestern
Pennsylvania,” said Cherie Sears, director of the Rutledge Institute and
president of The Village. “We are grateful that the Rutledge Institute will
expand its positive impact on individuals and our community.”

For more information about the Power of PennWest,
visit www.pennwest.edu. For information on The Village,
visit https://thevillagecares.org/.