Left to right: Samantha Aycock, Fue Xiong, Shawn Reeves, Jefferey Baxter (rear), Patricia Tedder (front), Anthony Guajardo, ALD Cynthia Jenks, Dale Hensley (rear), Stewart Marsh (front), Cody Taylor (rear), David McConnell (front), and Daniel Fleming.
On Monday the Physical Sciences Directorate recognized the outstanding contributions and achievements of its technicians at its annual Technician Awards for 2024. This year’s awards highlight the dedication, innovation, and commitment to excellence demonstrated by technicians across the directorate's various divisions.
Best New Technician Award
Daniel Fleming from the Materials Science and Technology Division (MSTD) has been honored with the Best New Technician Award for the year. His skill and expertise, ambitious spirit, strong focus on safety, and a proactive, questioning attitude earned him this recognition.
Best Paper Awards
Jefferey Baxter and Shawn Reeves, both from the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS), received the Best Paper Award for their contributions to the development of safe techniques. Their efforts have not only led to a high-impact paper but also contributed significantly to ongoing safety improvements.
Major Equipment Installation Award
The Major Equipment Installation Award was presented jointly to Fue Xiong and David McConnell, both of whom are from the Chemical Sciences Division (CSD), in recognition of their exceptional work while installing a pilot-scale, wet spinning line, a critical addition that will contribute to ORNL's reputation as the leading carbon fiber research facility in the world.
Core Value Awards
- Impact (through outstanding contributions): Cody Taylor, MSTD, was acknowledged for his ability to quickly pick up new skills, his dependability, and his flexibility, all of which have positively impacted operations in alloy production and mechanical testing.
- Safety: Buddy Parker, CSD, received this award for his outstanding performance in waste operations at the Transuranium Analytical Laboratory. His efforts have significantly enhanced safety protocols, ensuring a safer operational environment.
- Service to the Community: Dale Hensley, CNMS, was recognized for his instrumental role in revitalizing the PSD Purple Trailer for the ORNL Traveling Science Fair, enabling continued community engagement and educational outreach.
- Teamwork: Anthony Guajardo, Stewart Marsh, Patricia Tedder, and Matthew Stanford, all from MSTD, were commended for their collaborative efforts in successfully completing tensile testing of harvested Palisades surveillance specimens. The results of this testing will support the long-term operation of the nation's existing nuclear fleet.
One ORNL Award
Samantha Aycock, CSD, received the One ORNL Award for her outstanding performance during the rush analysis of tank solutions at the Radiochemical Engineering Development Center (REDC). Her efforts during the Emergency Special Inventory of the hot cell Material Balance Area (MBA 077) exemplify dedication and professionalism under pressure and played a vital role in returning REDC back to operation.
These awards not only celebrate individual excellence but also underscore ORNL’s commitment to fostering a culture of research excellence, safe operations, and community service among its technician workforce. Congratulations to all the awardees for their contributions to advancing science and technology within and beyond PSD.