Meet June 2009 Employee and Team Member of the Month
Bonita Nelson
NOAA’s Fisheries Service
Employee of the Month
June, 2009
Bonita Nelson, a biologist with the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, is the driving force behind an annual cycle of outstanding outreach events at the center, setting a high standard for educational outreach. In the last few months, Bonita has spearheaded an enormously successful regional science fair at the local high school; hosted Alaska native students from Dillingham, Alaska; and coordinated a month-long excursion by all the local kindergarten, home-schooled, and sixth grade students to the Juneau NOAA laboratories.
Her work culminates each May with Seaweek, a short course for up to 1,200 elementary school students. By adding a series of hands-on activities to the aquarium and touch tank exhibits, Bonita transformed a once routine series of field trips into a set of compelling and kinetic learning experiences that teachers have lauded as truly creative ways to reach students and that students eagerly anticipate.
Office of Marine & Aviation Operations
Team Member of the Month
June, 2009
Michael Hilla, a mechanic with NOAA’s Aircraft Operations Center at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, continually exceeds expectations and goes above and beyond his contractual duties. Since his arrival in October 2008, Mike has proven he can fix anything. He has repaired and restored approximately $30,000 worth in ground support equipment that previously had not been maintained. This figure may not seem large compared with other projects, but ground support equipment is crucial to the successful operation of 14 aircraft, ranging from light aircraft to heavy WP-3D Orion hurricane hunters and Gulfstream IV hurricane surveillance planes.
Hilla’s customer service skills are exceptional, and he takes ownership and great pride in his job. This shows itself not just in the equipment that he is directly responsible for maintaining, but in the quality of other equipment at the center as well.