Champions of education: The scholarship was the key
by Kristin Robinson
Diane (Keating) Woodcox’s journey began in Baytown, Texas, where she graduated from high school and took her first steps into higher education at ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University. “It was a great experience,” she recalls. “I really enjoyed the classes and the people I met.” After two years, Diane transferred to Colorado State University to be closer to her extended family and fulfill a dream of studying in Colorado. She graduated from Colorado State University and set out on a three-month European adventure, traveling on just five dollars a day, a feat that took her through Iceland, the British Isles, Germany, Italy, France and beyond.
Diane’s career path was as dynamic as her travels. While working at Pittsburg State University in Kansas, she earned her master’s degree and met her future husband, Larry Woodcox, a fellow PSU graduate. The couple went on to raise three children, Shelly, Reed and Joseph, while Larry continued flying with the Civil Air Patrol, following his service in the Army during the Vietnam War and his transition into the automotive industry. Diane built a successful career in real estate, which provided the flexibility she needed while raising their family and teaching students at various levels. Today, she remains active as a real estate investor. She and Larry enjoy traveling, participating in church life at Faith Presbyterian, and spending time with their large and growing family, which now includes eleven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Diane’s commitment to education runs deep. Inspired by her father’s story, she often reflects on how Joe Keating received an unused scholarship from his high school that enabled him to attend the Colorado School of Mines, where he earned a degree in petroleum engineering. “That scholarship was the key to college—to his future,” she said. His experience inspired memorial scholarships for her brothers, Tom and Calvin Keating, as well as Diane’s own scholarships, which support juniors and seniors. “I want these to be a helping hand to those who are willing to work to improve themselves and gain a better future,” she explains. “Education is the key to a better life.”
For Diane, the most rewarding part of being a scholarship donor is knowing the funds are being used well. “It’s good to know these funds make a difference and they are a gift that keeps on giving,” she said. She also treasures the opportunity to meet the students and faculty who help bring her vision to life.
Her advice to others considering a scholarship is simple: “If you have what you need, why not share? You can gradually give until you have enough for a full scholarship. I promise you will not take your money with you in the end!” Diane believes in charity, in community and in the power of education to transform lives. Through her generosity, she’s helping ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ students open doors to brighter futures and encouraging others to do the same.