At a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon hosted by Berkeley Lab’s Government and Community Relations Office on April 24, Engineering Division employees received awards for their commitment to K-12 STEM education and for their service within the local community. Keynote remarks were provided by Carol Burns, Berkeley Lab’s Deputy Director for Research and Chief Research Officer.

Machine Shop employees Dee Pickett, Kris Pearson, and Rick Kraft received an award on behalf of the entire Machine Shop, in recognition of their efforts in support of the Lab’s High School STEM Days. They have provided students with tours of the shops, networking sessions, and more in an effort to nurture future scientists and engineers and help high school students find career pathways.

“Giving STEM tours allows me to share my passion for the manufacturing trades and, hopefully, spark curiosity in others—especially by showing young adults the valuable, real-world skills they can gain through alternative educational paths, including those outside of traditional 4–8 year college programs,” said Kris Pearson.

The K-12 STEM outreach program at the Lab engaged 3,605 students across 62 Bay Area schools and involved 276 volunteers from the lab between Fall 2023 and Summer 2024.

Ken Lambert receives his award from Deputy Director Carol Burns (right). Credit: Robinson Kuntz, Berkeley Lab

Ken Lambert, an electronics engineering technologist in the Engineering Division, was recognized as a 2024 Outstanding Volunteer for contributing to many volunteer efforts on behalf of the Lab. Lambert participated in community events and K-12 outreach programs, including the San Francisco Pride Parade, the Black Joy Parade, Earth Day Cleanup, BLDAP career workshops, SAGE workshops, and more.

Engineering Division employees were honored at the luncheon alongside staff members from Security and Emergency Services, Human Resources, Facilities, the Computing Sciences Area, and the Biosciences Area.

Thank you to the many Lab employees who generously give their time for our K-12 outreach programs and at service events hosted in our community. If you are interested in getting involved in volunteer opportunities affiliated with the Lab, visit service.lbl.gov.