Grand Rapids Man to Receive Top Alumni Award at Kettering University on Sept. 10

FLINT, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A Grand Rapids man will receive one of the highest honors presented by Kettering University.

Armen G. Oumedian, a 1949 graduate of Kettering University, will be among the eight honored by the Kettering University Alumni Association for professional excellence and civic engagement when Kettering hosts ceremonies in Flint on Sept. 10. Kettering President Robert McMahan and Alumni Association President Frank Krohn will officiate during the presentations.

Oumedian will receive the Kettering University Alumni Association Human Relations Award. The award recognizes a graduate who has rendered significant contributions inspiring unity at Kettering University.

Oumedian retired as senior vice president for Pinnacle Automotive in 2000. Oumedian has actually retired twice, from Pinnacle Automotive in 2000 and he also retired as senior vice president and assistant to the president for Rapistan Inc. in 1988 after 32 years of service to the company. Prior to Rapistan he was employed at General Motors for 10 years.

His service to the university includes contributing more than $100,000 in scholarships for students employed in West Michigan, creating the Kettering Technology Award, establishing the Eagle Scout Scholarship at Kettering, founding the “Classroom of the Future” project and committing $20,000 in a matching grant, creating a fund to sponsor two LITE participants from West Michigan and arranging an academic partnership between Grand Rapids Community College and Kettering.

In addition to Kettering he has worked to develop resources in West Michigan including: establishing the Armen Oumedian Innovation Health Fund with Metro Health Hospital Cancer Center to develop and fund patient navigation and survivorship programs, establishing a scholarship for high school students to attend GRCC and Kettering, founded the Pat Oumedian Innovative Learning Nursing Fund at GRCC, established a pre-college engineering fund for high schools in Grand Rapids, started the “Armen Innovation Challenge” at GRCC, and working with the Grand Rapids Community Schools who develop Science, Engineering Technology and Math programs.

Oumedian is a member of the Kettering University Alumni Board and the Porter Hills Communities and Services Foundation Board. He is the recipient of the David Douma Outstanding Leadership Award, the Grand Rapids Community College Alumni of the Year Award and the Kettering University Alumni Service Award.

A veteran of WWII, Oumedian attend Kettering/GMI after being wounded and discharged in 1945. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering in 1949. He and his wife, the late Patricia Oumedian, have three children, 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He lives in Grand Rapids, Mich.

To see photos and biographies on all the award recipients, visit http://www.kettering.edu/visitors/storydetail.jsp?storynum=3137.

Kettering University is located in Flint, Michigan, and is the country's premier engineering, science and business university dedicated to co-op education and experiential learning, and a national leader in preparing entrepreneurs and innovators. For more information, visit www.kettering.edu.