Judges for the 2004 Tennessee State Tournament

Dr. Stephen Canfield - Design Award

Dr. Stephen Canfield received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech, in 1997.   Currently, Dr. Canfield is an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Tennessee Technological University.  He teaches courses in kinematics and dynamics of machinery, robotics, mechatronics and intelligent machines.  He and his students are involved in research for compliant spatial manipulators, mobile climbing robots, assistive mechanisms for children with disabilities, and genetic algorithms for synthesis of compliant mechanisms.

Tom Burgess - Design Award

Tom Burgess is currently the Remote Systems Group Leader in the Nuclear Science and Technology Division of Oak Ridge National Laboratory.  He is a mechanical engineer (UTK, ‘83) with over 20 years experience in the R&D and design of advanced robotic and remote handling systems, tooling and process systems for hostile environments.   Primary fields of application have included the nuclear fuel cycle, fusion reactors and accelerators.  He has led many R&D and design activities in these fields for both national and international projects.

Van Graves - Design Award

Van Graves is currently an research and development staff member in the Remote Systems Group of Oak Ridge National Laboratory.  He works on the design of remote handling and maintenance systems.  Prior experience at the Y-12 National Security Complex included the development of computer systems designed to automate manufacturing and inspection processes directly from CAD data. He has BS and MS degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Tennessee.

Craig Bradley - Design Award

Craig Bradley is a development engineer and project manager at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the Remote Systems Group.  He has over 25 years experience in leading development projects for remotely operated and robotic equipment.  Some of the equipment he has helped develop include, nuclear fuel handling and dismantling equipment, a radioactive waste transport cart, and a remotely controlled robotic arm for reloading Patriot missiles.  He has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas, and is a registered Professional Engineer in Tennessee.

Steve Parham - Design Award

Mr. Parham is an application developer with a focus on the design and implementation of Oracle-based web systems.   He works at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the Computing Applications and Web Technologies Division.   He has done extensive work in the cyber security area, developing applications that help the computer security group keep the laboratory computing systems safe.  He received a Bachelors of Science degree in Computer Science from Tennessee Technological University in 1990.

Dr. Lynne Parker - Design Award

Dr. Parker is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.   She is also an Adjunct Distinguished Research and Development Staff Member in the Computer Science and Mathematics Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.  She received her Ph.D. in computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  She is a winner of the U.S. Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.  She performs research in autonomous robots, multi-robot systems, sensor networks, embedded systems, and artificial intelligence.

Lee McCauley - Design Award

Lee McCauley is an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science Department at the University of Memphis.   His work includes research on Intelligent Environments, where computers interact with humans through speech, gesture, and object recognition.  Lee teaches a beginning programming class using LEGO robotics to inspire creative problem solving and organizes a four-day summer workshop to teach high school students how to build and program LEGO robots.

Paige Stafford - Design Award

Paige Stafford received her Masters Degree in Computer Science from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in 2002.  She currently works at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the Networking and Computer Technologies Division.  Her work focuses on network-related business applications such as the Network Registration System.  She designs and implements database (ORACLE, mySQL) driven web applications, and manages the network services, DNS and DHCP. Her preferred programming tools include C, Perl, shell scripts, HTML, and JavaScript.

Pat Fitchpatrick - Presentation Award

Pat Fitchpatrick is a graduate of Berea College with a degree in Elementary Education.  She received her MS in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Tennessee Knoxville and taught middle school science in Knox County, TN until retiring in May of 2002.  She has worked with numerous groups having summer camp experiences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.  She was a state finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Math Teaching in 1998.

Dr. Jim Jones - Presentation Award

Dr. Jones received his Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from the University of Tennessee in 1980.  He began his career working directly in nuclear power but personal interests led him to become involved in all aspects of instrumentation.  He has specialized in concept-to-production development of portable, microprocessor-based instrumentation including specifying conceptual designs, designing, programming, testing, and supporting manufacturing.  During his career, Dr. Jones founded and managed two nuclear power service companies and one instrumentation manufacturing and sales company.  He currently provides personal consulting services for supporting electronic designs and for problem resolution in the electric power industry.

Dr. Stephen Stow - Presentation Award

Dr. Stephen Stow holds a Ph.D. in geochemistry from Rice University and previously taught geology at the University of Alabama.  Since 1980, Dr. Stow has been employed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.   He has performed considerable geochemical and petrologic research and published papers on volcanic systems.   He is currently Director of the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge.

Cindy Shields - Presentation Award

Cindy Shields received a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Tennessee in 2002 and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Mississippi in 2004.  She is currently employed as a Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer at the Y-12 National Security Complex.

Dr. John Draper - Teamwork Award

John Draper is President and Chief Scientist of Raven Research Corporation, a small business performing research and development work in human factors and ergonomics, specializing in teleoperation and virtual reality applications.   Raven Research is located in Lenoir City, Tennessee.

Yolanda Childs - Teamwork Award

Yolanda Covington Childs, a native of Centreville, Illinois, received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and has completed graduate courses in both Chemical and Environmental Engineering.  She is employed at the Y-12 National Security Complex as a Systems Engineer.   Yolanda coached FIRST LEGO League teams for the Artic Impact and City Sights Challenges of 2001 and 2002.

Terry Olberding, P.E. - Teamwork Award

Terry Olberding is the Assistant Manager for the Office of Programs at the Y-12 Site Office, National Nuclear Security Administration.  Her responsibilities include the managing the NNSA programs and projects at the Y-12 Plant.  Terry has twenty-five years of government service.   Previous work experience includes three years as the Assistant Manager for Technical Services at the Y-12 Site Office, several years as a Team Leader in the Nuclear Safety Division at Oak Ridge Operations, and numerous years as a mechanical engineer at the Tennessee Valley Authority.  Terry obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Science and Mechanics from the University of Tennessee in 1978, and she is a registered Professional Engineer in Mechanical Engineering.

Donna Riggs - Teamwork Award

Donna Riggs received her B.S. and M.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Tennessee with a manufacturing emphasis and is a registered engineer in Tennessee.  Ms. Riggs is employed by the Department of Energy Oak Ridge Operations Office (DOE/ORO) and has experience with nuclear materials and weapons component production, project management, quality assurance, operational readiness, Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence, strategic planning, process improvement, and conflict facilitation.   Ms. Riggs is active in the local chapter of the Society of Women Engineers, is on the Executive Committee of the Great Smoky Mountain Alumnus Chapter of Tau Beta Pi (the National Engineering Honor Society), and regularly serves the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence as an Examiner or on the editorial board.   Ms. Riggs supports the technical education of our youth whenever possible, mainly through judging science fairs and volunteering with the annual regional Science Bowl hosted by DOE/ORO and its contractors.

Kaye Johnson - Team Spirit Award

Kaye Johnson retired from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory after 27 years of experience in finance and program management.  She was Director of the Library and Information Services Division.  As Deputy Director of the ORNL Transportation Technologies Program, she was intimately involved in all aspects of truck and automotive research including computer modeling and crash testing.  Ms. Johnson was educated in the Tennessee public schools, completed her undergraduate work at Mississippi State University, and graduate work at the University of Tennessee.

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The FIRST LEGO League Tennessee State Tournaments are co-sponsored by UT-Battelle and the Tennessee Technological University.