KAYLEE RUTHERFORD
Kaylee Rutherford, granddaughter of Local Union 1607 member James Henry Huff, is one of two of the Lorin E. Kerr Scholarship award winners for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Kaylee plans on attending East Tennessee State University to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitative Health Sciences with a minor in American Sign Language, followed by a master’s in Communicative Disorders.
Kaylee is from southwest Virginia and both her grandfathers and great-grandfather worked for Westmoreland Coal Company. Having grown up in a strong union household, she believes unions must be ready for constant local and politically driven fights to ensure workers have safe workplaces with fair wages and benefits.
“I am grateful for the receipt of this scholarship,” said Kaylee. “I am confident with this contribution towards my education that I will be successful in my endeavors. After earning my degrees, I look forward to providing services for those in need in my local community.”
AIDEN CLARK
Aiden Clark, grandson of Local Union 9653 member Kenneth Clark, has been awarded the Lorin E. Kerr Scholarship for the 2026- 2027 academic year. Aiden plans on pursuing a history degree at the University of Kentucky and after graduation, applying to their law school. He wants to become a lawyer to be able to provide for his family the way his grandparents did.
Both of Aiden’s grandfathers worked in the mines their entire working career. “I hope to receive the best possible education available, and I’m thankful for this scholarship in helping achieve that goal,” Aiden said.
“After receiving a Juris Doctor degree and becoming a certified family law attorney, I plan on working my way up, just as my grandfathers did. I hope to potentially open my own law firm and help make a difference in the world by helping as many people as I can.”
Aiden believes the current labor movement is facing some significant challenges, primarily because of the weak labor laws that exist today. Aiden hopes, after obtaining legal expertise through law school, he will be able to assist in tearing down the legal issues facing the labor movement.
