ANS names List Vickers recipient of Mary Jane Oestmann Professional Achievement Award
"Mary Jane Oestmann was the first woman to be named an NRC inspector and led a distinguished career. To receive the Oestmann award is a great honor," said Vickers. A member of ANS since 1997, Vickers earned her doctorate in nuclear engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. She studied nuclear engineering at the University of Tennessee for her masters and the University of Florida for her bachelors. She has applied her skills and knowledge throughout 11 years of professional experience at three U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) facilities. Currently, she is employed by BWXT Pantex and works in the high explosives testing department.As a local volunteer, Vickers supports student science bowls, MATHCOUNTS competitions, and Women In Science Endeavors (WISE) seminars for middle and high school girls. She is an instructor for Science Teacher Workshop on radiological information and a math tutor for students taking the Texas-required TAKS exam.
The Women's Achievement Award was established in 1990 to recognize outstanding personal dedication and technical achievement by women in the fields of nuclear science, engineering, research, or education. Longtime ANS member Mary Jane Oestmann endowed the award to acknowledge the value of ANS as a professional tool for women in the industry. She is recognized for her efforts to help others advance their careers.
"To promote diversity within the workforce, we must give visibility to the contributions made by women. Mary Jane (Oestmann) recognized this connection between recruitment and recognition when she helped establish the award. The Oestmann Award promotes role models for students and women that stimulate their interest and participation in science and engineering," said ANS President Larry Foulke.
