PennWest California plans Veterans Day celebration
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PennWest California’s 50th annual Veterans Day celebration is set for Friday, Nov. 10.
A community breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m. in the Booker Great Room in Kara Alumni House, 611 Second St.
The breakfast will feature a keynote address by Dr. Bobbi Cumpston, director of Washington County Veterans Affairs, along with presentation of the annual Col. Arthur Bakewell Veterans Scholarship and a special recognition of PennWest education professor Dr. Susan Morris-Rutledge.
Cumpston is a retired Army veteran whose accolades include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal and the Army Good Conduct Medal.
Recipients of the Col. Arthur L. Bakewell Veterans Scholarship have been recognized at the annual Veterans Day celebration since 1984. Made possible through the Veterans Scholarship Fund 500 Club, the scholarship honors the memory of Bakewell, the first Veterans Club advisor.
This year’s recipient is PennWest California senior Joshua Mayro, a veteran of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. The North Versailles native served with the PAARNG from 2016-22 as a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist.
Mayro was a member of the 110th Infantry Regiment, 876th Engineer Battalion, and the 2-104th General Support Aviation Battalion. He is majoring in geographic information technology.
{p class=”x_MsoNormal”}State Rep. Bud Cook will present a special recognition to Morris-Rutledge in appreciation for her service in the U.S. Army Reserve and advocacy on behalf of veterans.
After enlisting from 1992-98, Morris-Rutledge re-upped in 2001, serving overseas during Operation Iraqi Freedom as a specialist (E-4) in the 323rd Chemical Company out of Sioux Falls, S.D.
Morris-Rutledge joined the PennWest California faculty in 2011 and coordinates the English as a second language program on campus. She also serves on PennWest’s Presidential Commission on Veteran and Military Affairs to advance the university’s goal of being a friendly campus for military veterans and their families.
Also, interim president Dr. R. Lorraine Bernotsky signed a proclamation Tuesday designating Nov. 6-10 Military and Veterans Appreciation Week at Pennsylvania Western University.
The proclamation reaffirms PennWest’s commitment to serving and supporting veterans and military families and lauds the continued contributions of past and present members of the U.S. Armed Forces.