Rep. Burkhart was presented with the award by Chairman of the American Nuclear
Society’s Honors and Awards Committee H.M. “Hash” Hashemian during the Opening Plenary
of the ANS 2023 Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was joined by Miss America
2023, Grace Stanke who is a recent nuclear engineering graduate from the University
of Wisconsin-Madison.
School of Energy Resources (SER) Energy Resources Council (ERC) board member the Honorable
Donald E. Burkhart, Jr. was recognized by the American Nuclear Society (ANS) as a
Special Award recipient for 2023.
Established in 1962, the Special Award recognizes an individual or group for outstanding
achievements in a specific area of work. Candidates are nominated and selected based
on the criteria for a particular topic each year. The topics for the awards have come
from the many varied areas of nuclear science and engineering fostered by the Society.
The 2023 topic focused on the role nuclear power plays in meeting state energy and
environmental objectives. The award recognized state policy makers and legislators
who have kept nuclear power at the forefront of their state’s energy policy and who
understand the contribution that nuclear energy plays in reaching net zero goals.
A representative in the Wyoming Legislature for District 15, Burkhart was recognized
for his leadership in encouraging nuclear energy to be a part of Wyoming’s overall
portfolio in order to address the unique challenges of reducing emissions, providing
reliability, while also satisfying high energy demand.
Marcio Paes-Barreto, director of industrial development at the Wyoming Energy Authority
was also a recipient of the award.
“I am greatly honored to have received the American Nuclear Society’s Special National
Award, along with Marcio Paes-Barreto of the Wyoming Energy Authority, for work in
advancing nuclear energy in Wyoming and sincerely thank the American Nuclear Society
for their consideration,” says Rep. Burkhart. “The award is an indication of the level
of recognition and national attention Wyoming is receiving for its approach to energy
development in general, and specifically in the area of nuclear energy development. Nuclear
energy will play a great role in Wyoming’s ‘All-Of-The-Above’ energy strategy. A great
many people are contributing to advancing the entire nuclear energy industry in Wyoming. This
is not just nuclear power, but includes research, education, engineering, economic
growth, supply chain and the entire myriad of opportunities nuclear energy offers
Wyoming.”
A video announcing the national award winners can be viewed here.
