Employees receiving diplomas were Jacquelene F. Harris, Randy Pietrzak and Ronald J. Reagan of Oak Ridge; Edward M. Ducko of Kingston; Butch Fancher, Mitch Ferren, Eric L. Fogel, Mark S. Hawley and Kevin L. Shaw of Knoxville; Sonja Lomax of Heiskell; John E. Polinsky Sr. of Farragut; Jenny C. Roddy of Norris; and Kevin L. Rogers of Powell. In addition, Douglas Shelley and Gary Capps of Knoxville received their associate's degrees.
Graduation ceremonies were held March 20 in Weinberg Auditorium at the Department of Energy's (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Hal Glovier, director of the Research Reactors Division (RRD), delivered the graduation address. Paul Hughes, RRD training manager, gave the closing remarks. Diplomas were presented by Dr. Wayne Jones, president of the American Technical Institute (ATI), Dr. Donald Brady, dean of students, and Jackson B. Richard, chairman of the board of trustees of ATI.
The employees participated in a program that provides qualified instructors from ATI as well as adjunct faculty from Roane State Community College and Pellissippi State Technical Community College. The ATI program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. Sixty-nine credit hours are needed for an associate's degree, and 132 are required for a bachelor's. The courses required for these degrees are offered on site in facilities made available by site management with emphasis placed on close proximity to the students' workplaces.
Most advantageous of the program's benefits was the impact on Lockheed Martin's rotating-shift workers. By scheduling classes around work shifts, students were able to pursue an education without missing work. Before the implementation of this program, the opportunity to return to school and earn a degree was almost impossible for reactor operators doing shift work.
According to Hughes, who initiated the program in 1992, the opportunity to continue one's education is beneficial to the company as well as to individuals. "This program allows Lockheed Martin to enhance the qualification and education of its staff," Hughes said.
The ATI program helps prepare employees for future advancement in the workplace. It also gives Lockheed Martin the opportunity to provide professional development for its work force. The student expenses are paid through Lockheed Martin's educational assistance program.
ORNL, one of DOE's multiprogram national research and development facilities, is managed by Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation; the Y-12 Plant and the East Tennessee Technology Park (formerly the Oak Ridge K-25 site) are managed by Lockheed Martin Energy Systems for DOE.