Postma Young Professional Medal

 

The Postma Young Professional Medal was created to honor the accomplishments of young professionals who have made an impact and fostered a community culture in our region. Herman Postma, epitomized this spirit during his life; and his wife, Pat, continues the tradition of service to her community through her initiatives on behalf of the new high school project in Oak Ridge. This award is sponsored by the University of Tennessee, UT-Battelle, and CROET and will be given in conjunction with the Muddy Boot Award at the ETEC Annual Meeting.

 

Postma Young Professional Medal Recipients

2009 - Stan Mitchell, Editor and Publisher, The Oak Ridge Observer

2008 - Leigha Edwards, Protocol and Community Outreach Manager, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

2007 - David Bradshaw, President-Anderson/Roane Counties, SunTrust; Alex Fischer, Vice President of Commercialization, Battelle Memorial Institute

2006 - Ken Green, Assistant Superintendent, Oak Ridge Schools

2005 - Thom Mason, then Director, Spallation Neutron Source, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Chair of Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation, now Director of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory

 

2009 Medal Recipient

On December 1, 2009, the East Tennessee Economic Council presented Stan Mitchell with the Postma Young Professional Medal, which is given to a young professional that exhibits leadership in the workplace and in community activities.

 

Stan Mitchell

Leigha Edwards, Pat Postma and Stan Mitchell

 

Stan Mitchell, the editor and publisher of The Oak Ridge Observer, has worked at three newspapers following a four-year stint in the Marine Corps where he served in the infantry. He graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, with a BS in journalism from the College of Communications. Prior to being discharged as a Sergeant in the Marine Corps, he participated in Operation Silver Wake, the evacuation of U.S. citizens from Tirana, Albania, in 1997, for which he received a Combat Action Ribbon. Stan currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce and as President of the Young Professionals Group of Oak Ridge. He is also a member of the Oak Ridge Sunset Rotary Club.

 

Objective

To recognize, appreciate, and reward the accomplishments of young professionals who make an impact and foster a community culture. The recipient will have significantly contributed to the community, in the development of a private company or product, politically, or within the federal programs.

 

Criteria for Honorees

Typically, one award is presented per year. Honorees shall be selected by any or all of the following criteria:

  • Community Vision: Emerging sense of community vision and leadership skills, ability to communicate vision within the community, and significant attempts to enhance quality of life.
  • Business Development: Entrepreneurial effort/innovative approach to grow and maintain business, accomplishments in, and applications of research and development, and ability to grow an existing business to new levels.
  • Building Consensus: Involvement in local, state, and/or federal government to positively affect both community and business; and ability to create partnerships and foster relationship building.
  • Other criteria as deemed appropriate by the selection committee.

Photo Credit: Lynn Freeney, Critique, Inc. DOE Photography