Keene, Barbara Horner Endowed Scholarship in Engineering

The Barbara Horner Keene Endowed Scholarship in Engineering was originally established in December 2004. The scholarship was revised in 2025.

Mrs. Keene earned a B.S. degree from Purdue University and an M.S. from TÿÈÕ³Ô¹Ï. Her work at Purdue was in Chemical Engineering and Comprehensive Science. While at TÿÈÕ³Ô¹Ï, she earned teaching certificates for K-12, Special Reading, English, Chemistry, Math, and Physics as well as certificates for Curriculum Supervision, Principal and Superintendent of schools.

Mrs. Keene, then Barbara Lyddon, began her freshman year in Purdue University's Chemical Engineering Program in 1943 as a shy 17-year-old high school graduate. She was surprised and frightened when she found she was the only girl among about 200 boys taking Engineering Chemistry 101 that semester. However, even in those early years of women in engineering, Mrs. Keene was always proud of her academic background. She enjoyed the engineering curriculum with its scientific approach to detailed planning, problem solving, creative thinking, and management skills. This training created a strong foundation for her varied and successful career.

The Barbara Horner Keene Endowed Scholarship in Engineering will be awarded annually to an undergraduate or graduate student in the College of Engineering and Polymer Science with a high academic ranking who plans a career in any field of engineering. The recipient will be chosen by the University Scholarship Committee in the Office of Student Financial Aid.

To make a tax-deductible gift to this scholarship, please visit UA’s . Select “A different designation” from the drop-down menu and enter “Barbara Horner Keene Scholarship” in the text box. Thank you!