A visionary and out of the box thinker, Viken was a firm believer in the life-long pursuit of education, constantly exploring his curiosities in the name of personal development. He spent his life expanding his knowledge in various fields, delving deeper and deeper into the sciences, and the arts. His love of engineering and computer landed him a job with a hard drive manufacturer in Simi Valley where his passion for technology blossomed and ultimately turned into a 40 year career. Eventually his focus was directed towards information security, serving in the field as an Information Security Director for major companies such as Sony Pictures, NBC Universal and finally Technicolor.
His passionate approach to life was not limited to technology. Be it his family, career or his interests and hobbies, he managed to give 100% in everything he did. He showed enthusiasm in a plethora of topics including but not limited to music, history, debate, critical thinking and so much more. He also absolutely adored nature and the outdoors, even creating a retreat in the woods to bring his family and friends together. He impacted everyone he met - if he wasn’t challenging their minds, he was able to find humor in any situation, immediately brightening the aura around him.
Not letting the environmental shortage of equipment and knowledge hinder his curiosity at a young age, he would resort to ordering engineering magazines from halfway across the world and salvaging parts from household items to manifest his vision. He was always a firm believer in easy access to technological resources, and thoroughly believed that the future of Armenia and Armenians was dependent on providing the youth of Armenia with the tools with which to cultivate their curiosity and empower them to become strong leaders in their fields. TUMO's vision aligns exactly to Viken’s aspirations for Armenia’s youth, allowing access to technology regardless of socioeconomic status.
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TUMO is a free of charge program that compliments school education by giving children between the ages of 12 to 18 the 21st century skills in technology and design.
The TUMO learning program is made up of self-learning activities, workshops and project labs that revolve around 14 learning targets from robotics and programming to filmmaking and music.
We give students the means to gain the knowhow that makes them unstoppable and become globally competitive and self-confident.
Thank you for choosing to honor Viken Derderian’s legacy through supporting TUMO.
TUMO Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN) 45-2130686. Your contributions are tax deductible to the full extend allowed by law in the United States.