2008 Outstanding Performance in a Lab Award winners announced

Sandy Hancock, Renee Irvin, Julie Petruska, and Kathy Lowe were presented with Virginia Tech's 2008 Outstanding Performance in a Lab Award on Oct. 2 at the Sixth Annual New Developments in Laboratory Technology Exhibits and Workshops.

The outstanding performance in a lab award program aims to recognize an individual or team (3 or more members) for performance supporting research in a non-administrative position. The award honors recipients for exemplary accomplishments, professional development, and any relevant background and experience demonstrating how the individual or team interacts with colleagues and students.

Sandy Hancock, of Christiansburg, Va., was recognized for her expertise and tireless commitment to the Laboratory for Neurotoxicity Studies’ Good Laboratory Practices. Hancock is a laboratory specialist in the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.

Renee Irvin, of Narrows, Va., was selected for outstanding contributions to the teaching mission of the department in terms of future planning, supply maintenance, and willingness to get the job done regardless of time of day or day of the week. Irvin is a laboratory specialist with the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Science.

Julie Petruska, of Blacksburg, Va., was selected for outstanding contributions to the department through her work with graduate students, daily maintenance, and upkeep of facilities, and smooth transition between the many on and off-campus classrooms and laboratories. Petruska is the environmental laboratory supervisor in the College of Engineering's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Kathy Lowe, of Christiansburg, Va., was selected for outstanding contributions to the department not only through her own research and daily work but through her assistance and guidance of students using Transmission and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Lowe is a laboratory specialist in the veterinary college.

Robert Walters, vice president for research, presented each winner with a certificate in recognition of their accomplishment, and each award recipient received a $500 monetary award.

The Outstanding Performance in a Lab program is co-sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Research and University Professional Development’s Laboratory Employee Professional Development Network (LEPDN).