It’s a WIN win again: Entergy Women in Nuclear “most reactive” chapter

JACKSON, Miss. – Entergy’s Women in Nuclear chapter has been recognized again by the U.S. WIN organization as the “most reactive” chapter. It is the second time in as many years the chapter has gained national recognition for their educational outreach efforts, this time for their work during 2023’s National Nuclear Science Week.

Chapters are judged on the number of activities held during NSW, the number of participating U.S. WIN members, the number of individuals and public sectors reached and the variety of topics covered.

“It was the dedication, hard work and leadership our team demonstrated last year that allowed us to be awarded, for the second year in a row, the Most Reactive Chapter for 2023’s Nuclear Science Week,” said Danielle Andreozzi, Entergy Nuclear design engineer and fleet president of Entergy’s U.S. WIN chapter. “I am so proud to be a part of this organization and company. I have personally seen the effects advocating for nuclear and STEM careers has on students and the local community.”

Entergy has a WIN chapter at each of its four nuclear power plants in Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana, as well as at its headquarters in Jackson. Chapters from all five sites participated, with some putting on multiple events. Among the outreach efforts were:

• Nuclear and STEM-related activities and giveaways for visitors at the Mississippi Children’s Museum hosted by WIN volunteers from Entergy Nuclear’s Echelon headquarters
• STEM Day and National Science Day events at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station in Port Gibson, Miss. for girl scouts, boy scouts, a local youth council and students ranging from middle school to high school
• A STEM Fair hosted by River Bend Station in St. Francisville, La. for Bains Elementary fifth grade students
• Nuclear Science Days at Russellville Middle School held by Arkansas Nuclear One WIN members in Russellville, Ark. for hundreds of sixth- and seventh-grade students
• A nuclear and STEM-related activities event hosted by Waterford 3 Steam Electric Station in Killona, La. for K-12 students at the Killona Community Center in the after-school program
• Nuclear advocacy letters to Mississippi legislators from Entergy Nuclear headquarter employees

In all, their efforts reached more than 1,500 school children, teachers, parents, legislators and other community members.

“This year’s competition for the Most Reactive Chapter was fierce,” said Jennifer Watkins, Nuclear Science Week lead for the U.S. WIN communications committee. “We had submissions from 10 chapters who all did an amazing job with their outreach efforts. The creativity and diversity in events were fantastic. Approximately 3,000 individuals of all ages were able to explore nuclear science topics—and that doesn’t even cover those who were reached via social media! We love seeing how our chapters promote and support nuclear energy as a carbon-free energy source in our communities.”

U.S. Women in Nuclear is an organization of individuals who work in nuclear energy and technology fields around the United States. Their vision is aimed at positioning the United States for the future of nuclear energy and technology through the advancement of women.

Nuclear Science Week, held the third week in October, is an international, broadly observed, week-long celebration to focus local, regional, national and international attention on all aspects of nuclear science.