April 30, 2008
When Diana Keenan visited Vanderbilt’s scholarship website earlier this year in search of a scholarship, she had no idea that a few clicks of the mouse would lead her to where she is today.
Having been a stalwart in the community throughout high school in her hometown of Locust Valley, N.Y., Keenan was immediately drawn to the application to become an Ingram Scholar, which is based upon academic merit and community service.
Even with a strong academic background and a passion for community service, Keenan, a freshman midfielder on VU’s lacrosse team, knew she had a very small chance of becoming an Ingram Scholar. After all, only 48 of 6,532 Vanderbilt undergraduates, or less than 1 percent, were Ingram Scholars in 2007-08.
“Realistically, I didn’t think I was going to get it, but I thought I might as well try,” Keenan recalled. “It is very prestigious and I knew a lot of students would apply.”
Even though it was a small chance, it was a chance, and that chance paid off on April 16 when she was one of five current students selected as Ingram Scholars. With her selection, Keenan joined Thomas Davis and Rob Whiting from the cross country team as the only student-athletes, who are Ingram Scholars.
“I think the award says a lot about Diana,” Vanderbilt lacrosse coach Cathy Swezey said. “I think she is a well-rounded kid that obviously excels in the classroom, in the community and on the athletic field. We are just happy that she is a part of the team and she is a great representative for us and Vanderbilt University.”
Having worked with Vanderbilt student-athletes, including the lacrosse team, on a daily basis, VU academic advisor Shawn Fagan understands just how impressive this honor is.
“What a tremendous honor this is for Diana,” Fagan said. “Her acceptance into the Ingram Scholarship Program speaks volumes of her academic ability as well as her willingness to participate in community service.
“She is well deserving of this opportunity and this is just another example of how exceptional our student-athletes are. This is an outstanding achievement for Diana, her family, the lacrosse team and Student Athletics as a whole.”
Just when Keenan didn’t think her day could get any better on April 16, it did.
The final stages of the interview process to become an Ingram Scholar fell during the time of Vanderbilt’s lacrosse match at No. 8 Notre Dame, forcing Keenan to stick around Nashville, while the team traveled.
“There was really no second-guessing her opportunity here,” Swezey said. “It was hard not to have her there because she has been a great part of our team, but it was certainly a very important thing for her and her family as well.”
The disappointment of missing the game quickly wore off when Keenan got the call that she had been selected as an Ingram Scholar. Shortly thereafter, she called her teammates and found out the team had upset Notre Dame.
“I got to find out that I got the scholarship and that we beat Notre Dame within the same five minutes,” Keenan said. “It was probably one of the best five-minute spans of my life because it was so exciting.”
One aspect of becoming an Ingram Scholar that Keenan is most looking forward to is the increase in time she will spend in the community.
“I think volunteering is the most rewarding experience that you can have throughout your life,” Keenan said. “It puts me in a good mood. Working out gives you endorphins and I think working in the community also gives you that same feeling.”
Having that type of approach is vital for Keenan. As an Ingram Scholar, she will be required to do at least 20 hours of community service each month and work toward the planning and implementation of a service project of her own choosing. With that project, Keenan will have to create a new service project that has never been done or create a new idea that will add to the mission of an organization at Vanderbilt or in Nashville.
Fulfilling her obligation to the community shouldn’t be a problem for Keenan, who has spent a great deal of her time volunteering since arriving at Vanderbilt. She has volunteered at the Andrew Jackson Boys and Girls Club, Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House.
“My mom and my dad always advocated that it is important as a student-athlete and role model, you need to give back to younger kids,” Keenan said. “I feel like I am very wealthy and I feel like I should give back to those around me.”
Although Keenan is unsure how much becoming an Ingram Scholar will change her life, she knows her time spent as an athlete has prepared her for any challenges that lie ahead.
“Being an athlete really helps you with time management because between practice and games and traveling, you have to organize your time and do it when you have time to do it, Keenan stated. “I think being an athlete throughout high school and being an athlete growing up really helped me with time management and that’s been very helpful here because Vanderbilt is a very challenging and rigorous university.”
