Keene, Barbara Horner Endowed Scholarship in Education
The Barbara Horner Keene Endowed Scholarship in Education was established in December 2004. Mrs. Keene holds a B.S. from Purdue University and an M.S. from The University of Akron. Her work at Purdue was in chemical engineering and comprehensive science. While at The University of Akron, 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.
With another experienced teacher, Mrs. Keene started the Learning Center Inc., a remedial clinic and consulting firm that developed, wrote and edited many books, films, tapes, games and puzzles to enhance learning. Among the company's products were the Britannica Reading Achievement Program, teachers’ manuals for the Holt Basic Reading System, and manuals for 12 units of basic training for the U.S. Women’s Air Force. Mrs. Keene was also a teacher and administrator for Portage County Schools in Ohio.
The scholarship will be awarded annually to an undergraduate or graduate student in the College of Education with above average academic standing, financial need, and who plans a career as an elementary or reading specialist teacher. The recipient will be chosen by the College of Education’s Office of Student Affairs in conjunction with the Office of Financial Aid.
Mrs. Keene previously donated to The University of Akron an extensive collection of elementary schoolbooks dating back to the 1800s. As a condition of receiving the scholarship, the recipient must incorporate these books in his/her studies in some way. They can be used as reference materials or as a study topic for a paper, for example.