2009 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science, Outstanding Mentor Award
The purpose of the DOE Outstanding Mentor Award is to recognize PNNL staff who have been exceptional mentors for students in the following DOE Office of Science Programs:
- Community College Institute (CCI)
- DOE Academies Creating Teacher Scientists (ACTS) for Middle School Science Teachers as Investigators Program
- Faculty and Student Teams (FaST)
- Pre-Service Teacher Fellowship (PST)
- Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI)
DOE Mentor Award Winners
Shauna Anderson, Operational Systems Directorate
Shauna Anderson was nominated by John Gangle. John says Shauna is an outstanding positive influence on his life and the lives of his fellow interns. He explained that Shauna strongly supported his involvement with CCI enrichment activities. She uses every opportunity to educate her interns on how the industry operates to prepare them for the future.
Shauna's work ethic and personality are a real encouragement to her interns. They appreciate her desire to see them succeed. John mentions that Shauna always made sure they fully understood their tasks and never wasted their time with meaningless work. She always made sure that they would be able to apply their work experiences to future careers.
Shan Belew, Operational Systems Directorate
Shan was nominated by Kevin Merkling. Kevin explained that Shan didn't only show him what it was like to be an engineer, but also showed him what it was like to work for a National Lab.
This was Shan's first time as a mentor, but Kevin says that he would have never known this. Shan fit perfectly into the mentor role with all of his great knowledge and experiences he was able to share. Kevin was impressed with Shan's ability to explain a project and then let Kevin complete the task. He was always open to suggestions from Kevin. Kevin was also impressed with Shan's genuine interest in Kevin as a person, not just an intern. Shan spent time getting to know Kevin, and this meant a lot to him. Kevin credits his positive intern experience to Shan's outstanding job as a mentor.
Alan Brothers, National Security Directorate
Alan was nominated by Ashley Przekurat. Ashley had a very positive experience with Alan as a mentor, even before she came to the lab. About two months before her assignment, Alan provided Ashley with the software that she would use for most of the summer so that she could familiarize herself with it prior to arriving.
The research project that Alan had for her was very well-defined and Ashley knew what was expected of her. Alan also made sure that Ashley enjoyed her time in the Tri-Cities. He made suggestions of things to do or places to see and made sure that she got to know some of the other researchers. Ashley said she knew that Alan wanted her to succeed in her summer at PNNL, but more importantly she knew he wanted her to succeed in her future teaching career.
Amoret Bunn, Energy and Environment Directorate
Amoret was nominated by Brian Barcello. Brian explained that he learned a great deal about the field of ecotoxicology, a field he did not know much about prior to his internship. He mentioned that he can't wait to teach his future students about this exciting facet of science.
Brian was impressed with Amoret from the beginning. When he arrived for his internship, Amoret was working in the eastern U.S. However, Brian was pleased to discover that Amoret had already taken the liberty of setting up his office, voicemail, and, most importantly, the background information he needed to read before beginning his project.
Lynette Jagoda, Energy and Environment Directorate
Lynette was nominated by Michael Workman. Michael says that Lynette went out of her way to make his summer an incredible experience. He explained that his project was well defined from the start and that Lynette was an exceptional academic resource.
Lynette always was available either in person, by phone, or email and was always excited about her subject and the research Michael was doing. Michael also explained that Lynette was essential in helping him formulate his abstract and paper. Lynette also was very supportive of Michael's enrichment activities, all qualities that made Lynette a great mentor.
Srinivas Katipamula, Energy and Environment Directorate
Srinivas was nominated by Scott Kenealy. Prior to Scott's arrival, Srinivas sent Scott materials to read and suggested reference material that would be helpful for him to bring. Scott was given two projects with well defined goals. Scott explains that Srinivas' mentoring style and dedication to education contributed to his positive experience at PNNL and enabled him to learn a great deal about computer engineering that he was able to apply to his studies.
Scott was most impressed with Srinivas' availability during his time as an intern. Whenever Scott had a question, Srinivas was always there and willing to help him.
Michael Kintner-Meyer, Energy and Environment Directorate
Michael was nominated by Ben Nguyen. Ben says that Michael was the best mentor he had ever had during his past three internships at PNNL. Michael didn't "hold Ben's hand."Instead, he let him work through projects on his own and was always there to answer his questions.
Michael made Ben's experience so positive that he inspired him to someday be a mentor. Ben says that he hopes Michael's next intern will have the same opportunities that he did and that he or she will appreciate how outstanding of a mentor he is.
George Last, Energy and Environment Directorate
George was nominated by Nicole McMahon. Nicole says that George embodies all of the descriptors—advisor, teacher, role model, friend—that the PNNL internship program looks for in a mentor. George and Nicole developed her summer internship project together so that it encompassed her field of study and also provided research results that George could use.
George immersed Nicole in his "outside world," taking her to local middle schools where he's a science ambassador, to Ice Age Floods Institute meetings, and on a mammoth bone hunt. Nicole said that because of George, she was able to "conduct groundbreaking research, tour the wonderful state of Washington, get an idea of how the national laboratory system works, and have an awesome time. "
Brian Miller, Energy and Environment Directorate
Brian was nominated by Steven Cudney. Steven says that Brian was a great mentor. Brian was upbeat, even when studying amphibians at "bizarre hours." Their project together involved tracking toads, and even though Brian had his own work and school load, he always accompanied Steven on the tracking expeditions.
Brian also involved Steven in extra-curricular activities, keeping him busy on the weekends. Steven describes Brian as friendly, courteous, field savvy, committed, and down to earth.
Wooyong Um, Energy and Environment Directorate
Wooyong was nominated by Ellwood Glossbrenner. Wooyong was Ellwood's instructor at WSU-Tri-Cities in spring 2008. Ellwood says that Wooyong always pushed him to perform at his best, and he provided research projects that were intellectually stimulating.
Wooyong encouraged independent thinking, giving Ellwood a taste of being a scientist in the real world. Ellwood said working with Wooyong was "enriching and rewarding."
Dawn Wellman, Energy and Environment Directorate
Dawn was nominated by John Nelson. John says that Dawn is a great mentor and has a gift for teaching. She got him excited about a different field of science, which he looks forward to exploring further at an internship this coming summer.
Dawn also took an active interest in talking with John about graduate schools, often referring him to her colleagues who also had recommendations. She challenged him in the Laboratory, offering him a sense of achievement that he appreciated.