Doug Blackwood and Karen Larson

Changing Lives by: supporting science and math education at K-State.

K-State connection: Doug Blackwood is a native of Hoisington, Kan., and a 1971 K-State graduate with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications. Karen Larson attended Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia. The couple was set up on a blind date by Doug’s fraternity brother and they were married in 1970.

Why they gave: “The world we live in is technology-based and becoming even more so. Unfortunately, too many kids don’t seem to care about science and math, and it’s going to hurt us later,” Doug said. “Anything we can do to encourage the study of physics, chemistry, mathematics and statistics, the better off we’ll be. This is what’s going to ultimately determine how far our country goes in the future. We took part in and witnessed incredible advances in science and technology during our working careers. As much as we saw, we know that there’s more to come, and we want to make sure that deserving K-State students have the opportunity to make their contributions to the future.”

Impact: The Douglas K. Blackwood and Karen M. Larson Scholarship benefits students majoring in mathematics, statistics, chemistry, physics, biology or biochemistry in the K-State College of Arts and Sciences. It was originally established in 2000 with a contribution by the couple and matching funds from Doug’s employer, Hewlett-Packard Company.