Alumni
Diana Keenan
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In high school Diana was involved in numerous community service endeavors. As a Girl Scout, she completed her Gold Award project through involvement with St. Christopher’s Family Services. She organized numerous toy drives to collect presents and other items for her project entitled “Operation Birthday” which created monthly birthday celebrations for the children of St. Christopher’s. Diana also was very involved with an organization called Swim Across America, a non-profit group devoted to doing what they love for who they love, swimming to raise money for cancer awareness, treatment and prevention. Diana not only participated in open water swims but was also involved in the volunteer organization and communications for Swim Across America. In high school, she also volunteered in the ambulatory unit of her local hospital and was involved in numerous service organizations at her high school including serving as President of the Leaders Club, and working with the Dance for Exceptional Young Adults, the Peanut Butter and Jelly Gang and Mercy Mentors.
While at Vanderbilt, Diana has spent time volunteering at the Andrew Jackson Boys and Girls Club, the Ronald McDonald House and the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. She has also spent a great deal of time volunteering with Cumberland Heights, a local non-profit alcohol and drug addiction recovery center. At Cumberland Heights she works with children whose parents are currently in recovery and still dealing with dependency issues as well as teenagers who are temporarily staying at Cumberland Heights for treatment. As a student-athlete she also has enjoyed events such as the Children’s Christmas party and sports clinics in which Vanderbilt student athletes have the opportunity to interact with local Nashville youth. Diana has also continued to combine her passion for athletics and service, participating in events such as Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and she swimming to fight cancer with an organization in her hometown and across the country, Swim Across America. This past summer she used her passion for sports as an inspiration for her summer service project, working children in Singapore (incidentally the site of the first Asian Youth Games, Summer 2009). She worked with Students Care Service, a social works organization in Yishun, Singapore which works with children from low-income and dysfunctional families, as well as children with social problems, learning difficulties and behavioral issues. Diana participated in and helped lead Social Enrichment programs such as soccer training, hip hop and teambuilding activities as well as mentoring many of the students at Students Care Service.