ANS names Winter Meeting award winners
The American Nuclear Society has named the recipients of seven awards that will be presented during the 2020 ANS Virtual Winter Meeting, which begins on November 16.
MILTON LEVENSON DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
O'Kula
To Kevin R. O'Kula, ANS member since 1976 and consulting engineer for Amentum Technical Services, for demonstrated leadership, professionalism, and dedication for more than 38 years in the field of nuclear engineering, supporting all aspects of Department of Energy and Nuclear Regulatory Commission activities. He has authored more than 40 papers and provided technical leadership to numerous ANS Programs and conferences. He is an industry expert in the areas of nuclear facility source term evaluations, probabilistic and quantitative risk assessment and severe accident analysis, accident and consequence analysis, source term evaluation, hydrogen safety, software quality assurance and safety analyses.
SEABORG MEDAL
Podowski
To Michael Z. Podowski, ANS member since 2006 and professor emeritus at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, for longtime leadership and outstanding scientific and engineering research achievements to advance the safety and efficiency of nuclear energy generation worldwide.
E. GAIL DE PLANQUE MEDAL
McNeel
To Kliss McNeel, director of environment, safety, security, and health at Fluor Idaho, for inspirational vision and outstanding leadership in creating environment, safety, health, and quality and assurance programs integral to the safe and environmentally protective cleanup of national and international nuclear legacy projects.
MARY JANE OESTMANN PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Okuniewski
To Maria Okuniewski, ANS member since 1997 and an assistant professor in the School of Materials Engineering at Purdue University, for her dedication to nuclear materials research and the education and professional development of young researchers in the field of nuclear materials science and engineering.
LANDIS PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION AWARD
Wabbersen
To William G. Wabbersen Jr., ANS member since 1989 and a nuclear engineer at the National Nuclear Security Administration, for his origination and development of cross-cutting, innovative educational tools to introduce nuclear science concepts to tens of thousands of students of every age through the Interactive Nucleus Display (2010), the ANS Isotope Discovery Kit (2013), and the Isotopes App (2020).
YOUNG MEMBERS ADVANCEMENT AWARD
Marshall
To Lisa M. Marshall, ANS member since 2005 and director of outreach, retention, and engagement in the Nuclear Engineering Department at North Carolina State University, for her significant contributions in advancing student and young members through her dedication, service, and leadership.
YOUNG MEMBER EXCELLENCE AWARD
Crook
Wargon
To Timothy M. Crook, ANS member since 2011 and a nuclear engineer at MCR Performance Solutions, and Matthew D. Wargon, ANS member since 2012 and senior nuclear engineer/computational physicist at TerraPower, for their tireless efforts in enabling student and young members toward nuclear science, engineering, and technology.
