Oak Ridge Today

Tuskan honored as SADD National Advisor of the Year

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Mary Tuskan and Julie Strike

Above are Clinton High School counselor Mary Tuskan, left, and Julie Strike, SADD state coordinator for Tennessee.

Mary Tuskan, counselor at Clinton High School, was chosen from a large number of qualified applicants as the SADD National Advisor of the Year, a press release said.

SADD President and Chief Executive Officer Penny Wells said that Tuskan, through her work at Clinton High School, has “exemplified our idea of a successful SADD advisor,” the press release said.

It said Tuskan led the members of the SADD chapter and Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) of Anderson County Youth Coalition to CHS’s repeat victory in this past January’s Red Ribbon Rivalry and continues to support the students in their efforts such as the “Will you stay sober with me?” prom campaign.

Anderson County Director of Schools Larry Foster said: “We were very pleased to hear the news of Ms. Tuskan being named National SADD Advisor of the Year. She is very deserving of such an honor. She has worked extremely hard with our students in Anderson County. Her commitment and dedication to substance abuse prevention is outstanding and she is always giving of her time. Her work is recognized throughout our system and is very much appreciated.” [Read more…]

Oak Ridge educator to receive national recognition

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Mike Carvella

Mike Carvella

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Michael Carvella, a second-grade teacher at Woodland Elementary School, will receive the 2015 California Casualty Award for Teaching Excellence, one of public education’s most prestigious awards, a press release said.

Carvella is among 39 public educators who will be honored at the NEA Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Education Gala to be held in Washington, D.C., on February 13, 2015. One of public education’s most anticipated events, the gala attracts more than 850 of the nation’s leaders from public education, philanthropy, and the private sector.

“We give these awards annually to honor and promote excellence in education and to elevate the profession,” said Harriet Sanford, president and chief executive officer of the NEA Foundation. “Educators like these are critical to their students’ academic success, and they deserve national recognition. We are thrilled that California Casualty has joined us again this year to pay tribute to educators who are making such a difference in the lives of students in classrooms across the country.” [Read more…]

Photos: Lady Wildcats take ice bucket challenge

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Lady Wildcats Ice Bucket Challenge

 

The Lady Wildcats took the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge on Thursday. Here is a collection of photos from the ice bucket challenge submitted by coach David Scott.

The Lady Wildcats program then went on to challenge Coach Aaron Green and his staff and the Wildcats basketball team, Coach Allen Etheridge and his staff and the cross country team, and the Oak Ridge football team, Scott said.

Honors: Hispanic engineers group recognizes ORNL’s Idrobo

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Juan Carlos Idrobo

Juan Carlos Idrobo

Juan Carlos Idrobo, a researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has been recognized by the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Award Corporation with the 2014 Outstanding Technical Achievement Award for groundbreaking research in scanning transmission electron microscopy of 2D materials.

Idrobo works in the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences’ Microscopy group. The Ecuador native received his bachelor’s in physics from Universidad de Los Andes, Colombia; his master’s in physics from the University of Illinois at Chicago; and doctorate in physics from the University of California, Davis. He joined the ORNL research staff in 2010.

The award is associated with Great Minds in STEM, a nonprofit organization that advocates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers for the Hispanic community. [Read more…]

Honors: ORNL’s Varela receives Microscopy Society’s Burton Medal

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Maria Varela

Maria Varela

Maria Varela, a researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has received the Microscopy Society of America’s Burton Medal for early career scientists.

Varela’s research experience includes thin-film growth, transport properties, and structural characterization by x-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. She specializes in aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and atomic resolution energy loss spectroscopy.

After receiving her doctorate in physics from Complutense University in Madrid, Spain, Varela came to ORNL as a Eugene P. Wigner Fellow. She has approximately 180 publications in refereed journals and has presented more than 100 invited talks and seminars. She has collaborated with scientists from more than 50 universities in the United States and abroad. [Read more…]

Spotlight: Emory Valley Center enjoys ‘Western Round Up’

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Emory Valley Center Western Round-up

 

The Elks Lodge in Oak Ridge hosted a “Western Round Up” event for more than 50 Emory Valley Center individuals and their staff on Saturday afternoon, July 19.

All individuals received cowboy hats and bandanas to wear in addition to special treats to take home. They also enjoyed an afternoon of “cowboy food” and punch served in cowboy boot mugs at the “saloon,” Western-themed games, and line dancing lessons led and provided by Tom and Evelyn Yeagler.

“Everyone had a great time, and (they are) already looking forward to next year’s event!” a press release said. [Read more…]

Honors: PCUD wins distinguished SOAR Award

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Matt Ballard and Rob Neil

Matt Ballard, chairman of APGA’s board of directors, presenting the APGA SOAR award to PCUD President Rob Neil. (Submitted photo)

 

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At its 2014 Annual Meeting, the American Public Gas Association presented Powell-Clinch Utility District with the prestigious APGA System Operational Achievement Recognition, or SOAR, distinction, which recognizes excellence in operating natural gas utilities.

Public natural gas systems are entrusted by their customers to deliver clean and affordable natural gas through a safe and reliable distribution pipeline system. To accomplish this mission, a forward-thinking natural gas utility constantly strives to improve its operating capabilities, overcome challenges, and adapt to its changing environment.

Out of over 700 APGA members nationally, PCUD was the only gas system selected in East Tennessee and was one of 21 selected for SOAR distinction by its peers on the APGA Operations and Safety Committee. The SOAR award is based on demonstrated excellence in the four areas of system integrity, system improvement, employee safety, and workforce development. [Read more…]

Spotlight: Art show at Library in August

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Sharon McFadden Drawing

 

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August brings an exciting collection of black-and-white ink drawings by artist Sharon McFadden. Originally from middle Tennessee, Sharon has lived in eight different states and more than 25 cities, but she now calls East Tennessee her home.

In 2006, Sharon began her “black ink on white paper” drawing, using mostly black gel pens on white watercolor paper. Needing a restful way to de-stress, she started pencil sketching for several months, and then decided to teach herself to draw black-and-white silhouettes. She continues to draw silhouettes and has added some other types of black-and-white drawing styles to her creations. She draws as much as she can every day because she realizes that since she has waited so many years to pursue something she loves, she also has wasted many years of practice time. [Read more…]

Honors: ORNL retiree receives top national award from Women in Nuclear

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Peggy Emmett ORNL Researcher

Peggy Emmett (Submitted photo)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory retired researcher Peggy Emmett is the recipient of the 2014 U.S. Women in Nuclear Leadership Award, the organization’s highest honor. The award caps a 51-year distinguished career for Emmett, who was recently recognized at a ceremony in Boston.

The award is in recognition of a U.S. WIN member who has made significant contributions and demonstrated leadership in the organization’s three core values: supporting an environment in nuclear energy and nuclear technologies in which both women and men are able to succeed; providing a network through which women in these fields can further their professional development; and providing an organized association through which the public is informed about nuclear energy and nuclear technologies.

Members of the award committee noted Emmett’s contributions to the education of the next generation and encouragement of STEM careers as evidenced by her creation of the SHADES program as well as numerous other activities. SHADES, a statewide project initiated in 1991, is a series of math and science programs for middle school-age girls and their math and science teachers. The program’s goal is to show girls that the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields are fun and interesting and provide excellent career opportunities. [Read more…]

Honors: Sheriff White, Lt. Sharp receive Patriot Award for Guard, Reserve support

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Paul White and Kenny Sharp ESGR Award

 

Anderson County Sheriff Paul White and Patrol Lieutenant Kenny Sharp were awarded the Patriot Award from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, at the Anderson County Commission meeting on Monday, July 21, a press release said.

Retired Major General John R. D’Araujo Jr. and Retired Lieutenant Colonel John L. Dyess presented the awards on behalf of the ESGR, the release said.

White and Sharp were nominated by Sergeant Charles Beach and were recognized for their commitment and support of the employees of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department who are members of the National Guard or Reserves of the U.S. military. An employee serving in the National Guard or Reserve, or the spouse of a Guard or Reserve member, may nominate individual supervisors and bosses for support provided directly to the nominating service member and his or her family. [Read more…]

Spotlight: Scarboro backpack giveaway

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Scarboro Backpack Giveaway

Pictured above from left to right are Simeko Carter, Kalonji and Kayelon Graham. (Submitted photo)

 

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Children enjoyed the Scarboro Back Pack Give-A-Way, which was held on Saturday, July 19, at the Scarboro Community Center.

A special thanks to Walmart, as well as community volunteers from the CNC Group, Team Investment, and DJ Dave Anderson who came together to provide a fun-filled event where 100 back packs, filled with school supplies, were given to area children.

Visit the city website at orrecparks.oakridgetn.gov for information on all the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department programs.

Spotlight: Nobel laureate visits ORNL for distinguished lecture series

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Venkatraman Ramakrishnan Delivers ORNL Lecture

Venkatraman Ramakrishnan delivers his lecture in the Iran Thomas Auditorium at ORNL’s Spallation Neutron Source on Monday. (Photos by Jason Richards/ORNL)

 

Nobel Laureate Venkatraman Ramakrishnan is visiting Oak Ridge National Laboratory this week (Monday and Tuesday) as part of the lab’s Eugene P. Wigner Distinguished Lecture Series in Science, Technology, and Policy.

Ramakrishnan’s talk on Monday morning was titled “How Antibiotics Block the Ribosome, the Cell’s Protein Factory.” He discussed his research on ribosome structure that earned him the 2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. More information on his background is available here.

His visit will include small group discussions with senior researchers, early career scientists, and postdoctoral fellows, as well as tours of the lab’s research facilities, ORNL said. [Read more…]