Evening of Distinction & Determination

During the Evening of Distinction & Determination, Kettering University honors its high-level donors and accomplished alumni. 

Save the Date

October 21, 2021

 

 

Evening of Distinction and Determination logo

Highlights From The 2020 Show

 

In 2020, more than $42,500 was raised during the new, hybrid event that featured live hosts from the Building 22 studio in Detroit and recorded interviews with the awardees in an effort to keep everyone safe.

 

2020 Alumni Award Winners

The Young Alumni Award

Maj. Gervé Tillman ’10, ’13

Tillman is the Deputy Program Manager for the Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar System in the Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Special Operations Forces Directorate at the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center of the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.  

The Alumni Service Award

Clark Bailo ’81

Bailo, owner of CDM Seeds LLC, started his career at Hydra-matic, which became GM Powertrain. He also is a member of Kettering’s Boldly Forward Campaign Committee.

The Engineering Achievement Award

Dr. Marie Johnson ’90

Johnson has worked for the last 20 years in cardiovascular, orthopedic and diagnostic medical device settings. She has multiple patents (including some pending) in the areas of cardiology, orthopedics, pulmonology, obstetrics and stroke. 

Entrepreneurial Achievement Award

Andrew Currier ’93 

Currier is the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of PCK Intellectual Property, an intellectual property boutique firm, including strategy, invention mining, branding, portfolio management, commercialization and trademark preparation. 

Extraordinary Leadership Award

Latondra Newton ’91

Since joining Walt Disney Company in 2017, Newton has been the Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer. Prior to her tenure at Disney, she served as Group Vice President, Social Innovation and Chief Diversity Officer at Toyota Motor North America, Inc. and Chief Program Officer of the Toyota Mobility Foundation of Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan.

Distinguished Alumni Award 

Mary Barra ’85

As the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors, Barra is the first female Chairman and CEO of a major global automaker. She started her career with General Motors in 1980 as a GMI (Kettering University) Co-op student at the Pontiac Motor Division and moved up the ranks to hold multiple senior-level positions before moving to her current role.