Jun

Smart, safety-conscious staff show some savvy (Sorry!)

June 19, 2014. Have you reached a milestone, received an award or conquered the world (at least your little corner of it) lately? Let us know at torch@si.edu. We want to toot your horn for you! Be sure to include your contact information and a picture as an attachment.

Smithsonian Education Awards

Endowed by the Smithsonian Women’s Committee and coordinated by the Center for Learning and Digital Access, the Smithsonian Education Awards are given to acknowledge achievement and innovation in education, and to recognize excellence in serving the nation through educational programming, exhibits, publications or digital media. The 2014 recipients were honored at a reception June 3.

Dr. Aron Crowell, Research Anthropologist and Director of the Alaska Office of the Arctic Studies Center at the National Museum of Natural History, received the Achievement Award for his consistent and outstanding performance in education. Aron works with Alaskan Natives to bring the Smithsonian to the community as a living resource and to establish a network for knowledge exchanges, which involves multidisciplinary and multicultural learning that encompasses diverse audiences.

The Education Department of the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, led by Caroline Payson, received an Innovation Award for demonstrating originality in bringing the Smithsonian to underserved audiences. Through the Design in the Classroom program and the Design Center in Harlem, the team has continued the museum’s commitment to education even while it is closed for renovations. Caroline shares the award with Sharon Mei Mah, Jessica Nunez, David Rios, James Reyes, Halima Johnson, Sarah Freeman, Kimberly Cisneros, Michelle Cheng, Vasso Giannopoulos, and Amanda Kesner.

Staff mentors of ArtLab+ at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, led by Ryan Hill, also received an Innovation Award as a Smithsonian-wide resource for new digital programming for teens—locally, nationally, and abroad. ArtLab+ mentors model social, experimental, and self-directed learning to support teen digital arts learning that has real-world impact. Ryan shares the award with Amy Homma, Dawn Quill, Drew Doucette, Cody Coltharp, Ashley Meadows, and Linsay Deming.

From left, Sharon Mei Mah, Secretary Clough, Sarah Freeman, Kimberly Cisneros, Halima Johnson, Caroline Payson, Amanda Kesner, Michelle Cheng, Assistant Secretary for Education and Access Claudine Brown, Vasso Giannopoulos, Jessica Nuñez and James Reyes.

Safety Person of the Year

The Office of Safety, Health and Environmental Management has created the Safety Person of the Year Award to recognize Smithsonian staff who make an extra effort to create a pleasant, safe and healthful work environment. These awards will become an annual part of National Safety Month each June. Be sure to congratulate the very first recipients.

David Banuso of the National Museum of American Indian, George Gustave Heye Center in New York, is an incredible champion for safety. He has stepped up to the plate to promote safety with enthusiasm and advocacy. He makes a difference every day through his words, actions and spirited follow-up with staff members.

Susan Edwards of the Smithsonian American Art Museum is unfailingly vigilant about safety, constantly reminding people about the hazards of handling chemicals, dangerous tools and equipment, She lends her knowledge to abate dangerous situation throughout the museum, regardless of the department.

Manda Kowalczyk of the National Postal Museum has enthusiastically worked with a diverse staff to create a unique safety culture within the National Postal Museum, one in which safety is valued, respected and promoted by every single staff member.

Enrique Moreno of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama has taken responsibility for the laboratory. Through the years, although it is not “his” laboratory, he has turned it into an example of what a chemistry lab should be in terms of cleanliness, order, documentation and safety practices.

After a fellow employee was nearly electrocuted while wearing a metallic ID lanyard, Tim Rose of the National Museum of Natural History took it upon himself to work with the Office of Protection Services to identify and replace all metallic ID lanyards worn by staff and volunteers throughout NMNH.

Les Shirkey of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory – Submillimeter Array in Hawaii is the lead mechanical technician at the Mauna Kea Summit and works full time maintaining heavy equipment. He makes sure safety barriers are placed around hazardous equipment, ensures appropriate lockout/tag-out procedures are followed, provides icy weather driver training and is a medical first responder.

Meg Smolinski of the Smithsonian Associates has proven in many creative ways that she will go above and beyond for safety’s sake. She has instituted five-minute safety talks at monthly staff meetings and created the Quad Evacuation Plan as a handy desk reference to cover emergencies such as Fire, Bomb, and Active Shooter scenarios.

From left, Nancy Bechtol, Manda Kowalcyzyk, Meg Smolinski and Gen. Jack Daley, director of the Air and Space Museum. (Photo by Steven Cohn)

From left, Nancy Bechtol, director of the Office of Facilities Engineering and Operations; award winners Manda Kowalcyzyk and Meg Smolinski; and Gen. Jack Daley, director of the Air and Space Museum. (Photo by Steven Cohn)