Laboratory communicators capture numerous STC awards

Society for Technical Communication recognizes outstanding technical communications products

Apr. 6, 2010—A number of Laboratory technical communication staff recently received award notifications from the 2009 Technical Publications and Online Communication Competition that was sponsored by the East Tennessee chapter of the Society for Technical Communication (STC).

Los Alamos entries were competed at a regional level, involving international and national organizations, including those from Japan, California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. Three Los Alamos entries garnered Distinguished Technical Communication awards, which represent the competition’s highest award category.

The Society's awards, in descending order, are Award of Distinguished Technical Communication, Award of Excellence, and Award of Merit. All Los Alamos winners of the Distinguished Technical Communication awards go on to the STC international competitions in May.

Distinguished Technical Communication awards were given to the following Laboratory publications:

• Actinide Research Quarterly: Suki Coonley, editor/writer, and Kelly Parker, graphic artist.

• LANSCE Activity Report: Clay Dillingham, editor/writer; Barbara Maes, desktop publisher; and Brenda DeVargas, graphic artist.

• MPA Materials Matter newsletter: Karen Kippen, Robb Kramer, and Thomas King, contributors.

An Award of Excellence was given to Web page developer Thomas King for a Currents magazine article: “Magnet-building Duo Share Multidisciplinary Zeal.”

Awards of Merit were given for the following:

• TSC Directorate 2009 Science Highlights: Susanne King and Kathleen Pallis, editors/writers, and Sharon Mikkelson, graphic artist.

• MST e-News article on Ramiro Pereyra of Materials Science and Technology Division, “Ramiro Pereyra: Metallographic Science and Art Revealed,” Caroline Spaeth, editor/writer.

• LUG 9: Ninth LANSCE User Group Meeting poster: Clay Dillingham and Barbara Maes.

• Experimental Physical Sciences Vistas: Karen Kippen, editor/writer, and Robb Kramer, designer/photographer.

• Experimental Physical Sciences Directorate (ADEPS) Recruiting Display, Robb Kramer, designer/photographer.

• MST e-News article on Jim Smith of Materials Science and Technology Division: “Mr. Smith: Paying it Forward,” Karen Kippen, editor/writer.

• Science Center LANSCE Refurbishment poster: Clay Dillingham and Barbara Maes.

• MPA Materials Matter article on Dipen Sinha of Materials Physics and Applications Division, “Dipen Sinha: Problem Solver,” Karen Kippen, editor/writer.

“The awards received by our staff show that our processes and products compare very favorably with work that is done in the corporate world,” said Chris Forbes, Communication Arts and Services group leader in the Information Resource Management Division. “This is why we regularly submit entries to STC competitions.”

“While it is gratifying to see our work receive such recognition from our peers, the awards are also a reflection of the wonderful support we receive from the Laboratory’s scientific staff and management in collaborating with us to create such products,” said Kippen, Experimental Physical Sciences (ADEPS) communications project manager.

With 14,000 members worldwide, the STC is the largest professional organization of technical communicators and is dedicated to advancing the art and science of technical communication. Entries are judged for technical communications by industry experts from multiple disciplines. An award is both peer recognition as well as acknowledgment of quality that stands out among significant corporate and industrial entries.