Students cap program completion with graduation

Contact: David Lyons, (505) 665 9198 (00-109)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Aug. 4, 2000 -- Seven students graduated recently from the University of New Mexico, Los Alamos, with certificates or degrees in electromechanical technology, thanks to an educational outreach program jointly developed by the Department of Energy's Los Alamos Neutron Science Center Division and the university.

The Electro-Mechanical Technology Student Training Program, now in its fourth year, is a two-year certificate program designed to help students receive valuable academic and on-the-job training in the field. The program promotes and provides access to opportunities in higher education for those entering the workforce for the first time or workers in need of retraining.

Under the program, students spend half their time studying at UNM/LA and the other half working under the guidance of mentors at the Laboratory. At the end of the program, they receive certificates in electro-mechanical technology.

Student graduates Janet Lovato, John Harrison and Matthew Lusk of LANSCE Division, Melissa Reed, Edward Jacquez and David Reass of the Dynamic Experimentation Division and Dolores Salazar of the Physics Division received their hands-on training from mentors who volunteered to work with them throughout the two-year period.

During the graduation ceremony, UNM/LA Executive Director Carlos Ramirez thanked Marilyn Thomas of the LANSCE Division and Carole Rutten, manager of Student Services at UNM/LA, for their hard work and dedication in making the electro-mechanical technology program a success.

Laboratory Director John Browne was the graduation convocation speaker and lauded the Electro-Mechanical Program students' accomplishment. He singled out Lovato, who recently became the first female accelerator operator in the history of LANSCE.

"That's a really significant accomplishment," Browne told the audience to applause. He encouraged more women to prepare for technical and leadership positions at Los Alamos.

Browne added he is actively working with UNM and the University of California to increase collaborations and form strategic partnerships. "My vision is to build on the tremendous accomplishments of the collaborative programs we enjoy today," he said.

Thomas said, "The big reason for the program's success is the dedication of those who serve as mentors. These mentors give endless hours of time to the students, not only on the job, but with homework, too.

"Without mentors, we would have no students. I'm so proud of the students. It's a tough program to complete."

Added Rutten, "I'm just overwhelmed by the students' success. The biggest challenge now is to ensure that we have enough mentors for future students, and perhaps the graduates will one day be in a position in which they become mentors."

Thomas and the former Accelerator Operations Technology Division Diversity Committee -- now LANSCE Division Diversity Committee -- began working on the Electro-Mechanical Technology Student Training Program in 1995. The committee worked with Rutten and other UNM/LA staff and faculty to develop the curriculum, and Los Alamos' Human Resources Division helped coordinate the hiring process. The program was first offered in January 1997.

Since that time, 37 students have participated in the program. Twenty-one students have graduated, including this year's class, and 19 of them now work at Los Alamos. Eight students currently take part in the program.

For more information on the electro-mechanical program, contact Thomas at 665-0378 or Rutten at 662-5919.

More news releases from the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE)