Diana R. Osborn has been named the 2013 recipient of the Muskegon Community College Distinguished Alumni Award. Established in 1998, the award is the highest honor that MCC bestows upon an outstanding alumnus whose professional achievements, community service, and advocacy of higher education exemplify the foremost ideals of their alma mater.
Chosen via a tabulated voting process by the MCC Alumni Relations Committee and college leadership, Osborn excelled in all three areas critical to her nomination. She will be honored April 30 at the Distinguished Alumni Award Dinner on campus and will also address graduates at the 2013 MCC Commencement on May 2 in Walker Arena.
"I am so excited to get this award because MCC gave me the opportunity to pursue my passions — education, career and family,” said Osborn. “It is a great feeling that perhaps you made a little difference for others. MCC made that possible for me."
Osborn’s 45-year MCC career started in the late 1960s, when as a student she worked as a student assistant to help cover her tuition costs. After earning her associate’s degree in 1973, Osborn took a secretarial position and subsequently became director of the Personnel Department, Executive Assistant to the President, and concluded her career as Executive Vice President of Administration.
Furthering her education also coincided with her professional progression as she earned her Bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University in Business Administration, and her Master’s degree in Administration from Central Michigan University.
Osborn has received numerous awards and recognition throughout her career, including: the R.P. CIMS Intercultural Awareness Award; the Excellence in Leadership Award from the Liberal Arts Network for development; and the Harold J. Workman award for enhancing creativity in labor negotiations.
She has served several professional and community organizations, on the Board of Directors for both Goodwill Industries and the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement Board, as well as the MCC Board of Trustees and the Foundation for Muskegon Community College.
For more information or to make a Distinguished Alumni Award nomination, visit www.muskegoncc.edu/alumni.