Page 9 - SRNS Today January 2022
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JANUARY 2022    |   SRNS TODAY   |   9
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        Students learn                          Kathryn Geoffroy, a student on the winning
                                                team, said, “This project gave me an
        about nuclear                           opportunity to not only dive into my future
                                                aspirations of engineering, but it furthered my
                                                problem-solving skills in the world of logistics.
        science careers                         Being able to work with people from SRNS   WORCshop@AU teams
                                                opened my eyes to the wide range of jobs
                                                offered at the Site. Additionally, the use of   Augusta Preparatory
        S     RNS partnered with Augusta University   Advanced Placement chemistry applications   and students Kathryn Geoffroy
                                                                                                  Day School
                                                                                              teacher James Mason
                                                and multiple ideas my teammate Hannah
              (AU) to create WORCshop@AU, a unique
             education outreach opportunity to
                                                importance of electric transportation during the
        introduce students to nuclear science careers   and I brainstormed allowed us to realize the   and Hannah McDonough
                                                                                               (first place winner of
        by solving a real-world problem. The program   climate crisis.”                   Best Engineering Student Design)
        concluded on Dec. 9, when student teams   Mary Flora, SRNS Environmental, Safety
        presented their solutions during a friendly   & Health, Quality and Waste Management          •
        competition.                            Director, and Paul Hunt, an SRNS SRPPF         Evans High School
        Beginning in August, SRNS engineers     Plutonium Modernization Program Manager, the   teacher Courtney Bernal
        volunteered to mentor students and their   two other WORCshop@AU judges, both shared   and students Ha’ani Ismael,
        teachers while they researched how to cost   their educational and career experiences that   Yumeka Katonka, Georgia Walden
        effectively transport nearly 3,000 construction   led them to their current roles. They were   and Velmuel Smith
        workers to and from the Savannah River   excited to see so many students engaged in   (second place winner of
        Plutonium Processing Facility (SRPPF)   this project and a STEM environment.      Best Engineering Student Design)
        construction work site at SRS. SRPPF is part of   AU Assistant Professor and Director of Nuclear   •
        the NNSA’s two-site approach to revitalize the   Science Joe Newton, Ph.D., said, “The student   Richmond County Technical
        nation’s plutonium pit production capabilities in   presentations were amazing. Watching these   Career Magnet School
        support of the nuclear deterrent. The students   students take ownership over their ideas and   (Team 1) teacher Carla Biley
        presented their solutions to an audience of 150   solutions was so exciting to see. Partnering   and students Tamea Dunnom,
        people consisting of their peers, educators and   with SRNS was a great opportunity to   Jaidyn Moore, Rashad Wright,
        a three-judge panel.                    encourage students to stay in STEM disciplines   Amarie McNeal and Leila Cortez
        “We were very impressed with the quality of   and expose them to local career opportunities   (third place winner of
        presentations and took something away from   like those at the Site.”             Best Engineering Student Design)
        each of them,” said Rick Connolly, SRNS   Commenting on the event and mentor                  •
        Operations and Maintenance Director – NNSA   volunteers, SRNS Education Outreach
        Capital Projects (NCP), speaking on behalf of   Programs Specialist Taylor Rice said, “I am   Hephzibah High School
        the judge’s panel. “You helped solve a problem.   thoroughly impressed with the innovative   teacher Jeremy Dingman and
        Thanks for spending time on this effort and   solutions presented by each team. Nineteen   students Xavier Argyle,
        stepping outside of your comfort zone.”  SRNS volunteer mentors assisted these      Blayne Gates, Reuben Griffin
        Teams presented solutions that are      students and teachers throughout the school      and Ariel Rineer
        environmentally friendly and cost effective. They   year as they developed plausible solutions to   •
        examined options utilizing hydrogen, natural gas   an authentic problem. This project was a great   Richmond County Technical
        or electric buses and encouraged carpooling   way to connect industry with classrooms in    Career Magnet School
        and parking lot expansions. Students also   the region.”                           (Team 2) teacher Nathalie Pace
        weighed the safety and security implications of   NNSA announced funding for the WORC II grant   and students Travis Lee,
        increased traffic, important factors for SRS as it   program in 2020. The $5 million investment   Hannah Rhodes, Laila Anthony,
        carries out national security missions.  supports the development of the future         Melannae Zamor
        The winning team from Augusta Preparatory   workforce to carry out vital missions at SRS.   and Alana Potter
        Day School earned the title Best Engineering   The Savannah River Site Community Reuse        •
        Student Design and received a trophy    Organization administers and oversees the
        and a $100 gift card. The team’s teacher   distribution of the grant to academic partner   Edmund Burke Academy
        James Mason said, “These are hardworking   institutions, including AU. A small portion of the   teacher Kim Tsakonas and
        students, with a strong interest in science,   grant was used to develop WORCshop@AU.   students Braelyn Reeves,
        technology, engineering and math (STEM)   Growing NNSA missions at the Site in support   Dennis Eberly, Trey III Johnson,
        fields, and they really enjoyed working with the   of the nation’s nuclear deterrent prompted   Braddock Wilson, Luck Poma,
        talented engineers from SRNS to explore the   NNSA to enhance its efforts to develop an   Darcy Rich, Ava Timms,
        engineering design process while solving a real-  enduring workforce that will carry out these   Noah Christian
        world problem.”                         long-term missions.                             and Jordan Giles
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